Alongside the announcement, WorldSkills has set out its ambition over the next decade to use its ongoing participation in this global event to bring back innovation from other leading world economies to the UK, as highlighted in the Learnings from Russia talk at the WorldSkills final 2019, to help create a world-class skill system to support economic growth, productivity and competitiveness.

WorldSkills’ goal is to mainstream the excellence in teaching, training and assessment received by the apprentices in the WorldSkills UK elite squad, so that more young people across the UK can also benefit from world-class training methods.

The education secretary, Gavin Williamson, said: “As someone whose job is to be an ambassador for this country and the fantastic range of skills and innovation our young people can offer, I’m excited to see another talented group of young people preparing to showcase their skills on the global stage.

 “This government is levelling up skills and opportunity across Britain – either through investment in further education and training, the creation of new T Levels which will be taught from this September or working hand-in-hand with industry to create more high-quality apprenticeships. That work means the future can only get brighter and I look forward to championing the talent and skills of our young people for many years to come.”

WorldSkills has a global reach with over 80 countries and regions participating in the event, and this provides WorldSkills UK with unique access to skills innovation from around the world. Through its Productivity Lab programme, WorldSkills UK is seeking to work with partners in education, training and business to use this insight to mainstream global best practice to raise standards in everyday training to world-class levels. It believes this focus on excellence will inspire more young people, from all backgrounds, to take up apprenticeships and technical education as a prestige route to success for themselves and their employers.

Following the SkillFRIDGE final held in November 2019, two RACHP apprentices have been named as competitors joining the training for Squad UK. Dominic Dray from Eastleigh college, the SkillFRIDGE 2017 winner, and Jack Newton from Crowther and Shaw have both been selected to join the talent programme. Hopefully these young competitors will be able to represent their industry in China.

Karena Cooper, SkillFRIDGE competition operating partner manager, commented: “We are delighted to have two SkillFRIDGE competitors chosen for training with squad UK.

“The experience is life changing and the knowledge that they will gain as part of the team will benefit them hugely in their future careers.

“The whole of the RACHP industry will be supporting them and we wish them every success.”

Dr Neil Bentley-Gockmann OBE, chief executive, WorldSkills UK said: “It is fantastic to see such a strong squad of young people all of whom are aiming to represent the UK on the world stage in Shanghai.

“They will be flying the flag for the UK, demonstrating to the rest of the world that we are developing the high-quality skills needed to help us to trade internationally and attract inward investment across all of the UK to creating and maintain jobs. Now more than ever, we need to invest in excellence in training for the next generation if we are to remain competitive globally and help create a thriving economy.

“Congratulations to all of those on the WorldSkills UK Talent Programme, they really are the high flyers of their generation and should help inspire young people and parents everywhere – turning vocational snobbery on its head – showing that choosing a technical career is a clear route to success in work and life.”

The apprentices and students on the WorldSkills UK Talent Programme will now spend the next 18 months in training. This is fitted around their study and employment commitments before they face the ultimate selection test next year to secure a place in the team that will represent the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai 2021.