Two apprentices from Derbyshire car-maker Toyota are to represent Britain in a competition that will see them pit their engineering skills against the world’s best.
Jack Dakin, 24, and Danny Slater, 25, who both work at the Japanese car-maker’s Burnaston plant, will be part of a UK team who will compete in the WorldSkills Finals in Kazan, Russia.
Also known as the Skills Olympics, the competition sees students and apprentices compete against one another, in the hope of winning gold, bronze or silver in their chosen skill.
Jack and Danny, who are experts in mechatronics (engineering and operating robotic solutions for manufacturing) are no strangers to success in the competition. Last year, they won bronze medals at the EuroSkills Finals in Budapest.
Jack said: “We struck bronze in Budapest and are ready to go for gold in Russia. The pressure will be intense, but we know how to suck it up and use it to our advantage. We can’t wait to get started.”
Danny said: “This is the big one – years of extra training, study and competition around the world. We couldn’t be more focused and determined. We are in it to win it.”
The WorldSkills Finals will take place in Kazan, Russia, from August 22 to 27. Ahead of the competition, the UK team was recently given a Parliamentary reception organised by Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Anne Milton.
Dr Neil Bentley-Gockmann OBE, chief executive of WorldSkills UK, said: “These young people are the high flyers of their generation.
“In front of a global audience they will champion the focus on skills, foreign investment and trade, demonstrating that the UK is a world-class place to do business and create jobs.”
