The Skills Show is an initiative that is jointly supported by the Skills Funding Agency and the National Apprenticeship Service 1. WorldSkills UK competitions – the cycle inc - Have a Go 2. Media partners & competition organiser 3. Key dates 4. Resources Hub & materials available 5. Squad UK and WorldSkills Leipzig Useful links and contact details WorldSkills UK cycle

These competitions reward real talent among the nations apprentices and further education students. WorldSkills UK competitions are managed by NAS in partnership with industry leaders – across major employers and brand leaders i.e Loreal to colleges and sector skills councils. There are over 55 skills competitions in 5 sectors: Built Environment | Engineering | Cultural & Creative Arts | IT & Business Administration | Social & Professional Services The national competitions team manages these relationships and partly funds the majority of competitions – even though they are now mainly run by the organising partners. All competitions fall within our Quality Assurance framework and must meet these requirements to qualify. The Skills Show was the first of it’s kind - holding the majority of WorldSkills UK national finals under one roof. WorldSkills UK competitions WorldSkills UK features national and international skills competitions for young people and adults, driving up levels of expertise in further education, skills and Apprenticeships.

Competing – from grass roots to the international stage WorldSkills UK – the cycle Pre-competition activity Colleges, training providers and Employers are encouraged to hold internal pre- competition activity to find the best in their organisation that they will eventually put forward for a competition. For schools – we courage schools with learners at Key stage 4 (14-16) to embed vocational skills into their curriculum planning and delivery. There is a pre-competition toolkit & schools toolkit to support this activity. Regional & National competitions – Levels 2, 3 & 4 Competitors are typically entered to compete by their training provider, tutor / employer – although because there is a limit to the number of competitors per organisation, we are seeing an increase in competitors entering themselves. Once entered, they take part in regional heats held in public and private venues across the country – outstanding competitors are invited to compete at the national final. The majority of finals are now held at The Skills Show.

Competing – from grass roots to the international stage WorldSkills UK – the cycle The Skills Show 2013 – November, NEC Birmingham The majority of national finals will again be held at the NEC as part of The Skills Show. In 2012, during the three days of The Skills Show, over 500 people took part in 61 WorldSkills UK National Competitions in skills ranging from Aeronautical Engineering through to Landscape Gardening. The competitors secured a place in the final after competing in regional heats throughout the UK earlier this year. The competitors battled it out to win Gold, Silver and Bronze and ultimately be named the ‘best of the best’ in the UK at their chosen skill. TV presenter Angelica Bell was on stage to hand out the medals to the winners. Outstanding national winners will be considered and then invited to compete to be in with a chance of getting a place in Squad UK and then ultimately Team UK for the International WorldSkills Competitions.

Competing – from grass roots to the international stage WorldSkills UK – the cycle Exceptional national gold medal winners and Team UK members are invited to join the WorldSkills UK Alumni, joining an exclusive group of former competitors. Competitors put through to Squad and Team UK are then supported through a training and development programme, preparing them to compete at Level 6 and beyond – the minimum required to be in with a medal chance at the International WorldSkills competition. Competitors are assigned their own training manager and they are overseen by Performance Development Tutors – who are appointed and managed by the NAS International Competitions Team. Squad UK are now in place for the next WorldSkills Competition – taking place in Leipzig, July The final members of Team UK will be announced following a series of training and selection competitions in March Outstanding National finalists from The Skills Show 2012 will be considered for the next WorldSkills taking place in Sao Paulo, EuroSkills – happens every 2 years, in between WorldSkills competitions. The UK uses the competition as a pressure test for a number of Squad UK competitors – examples of other pressure tests: Australian National Finals / RHS Garden Shows.

Have a Go campaign WorldSkills UK – the cycle Local and regional Have a Go activities have become an established and valuable element of WorldSkills UK, both at The Skills Show and as part of the wider set of WorldSkills UK activities. By Have a Go we mean a ‘bite-size’ taster of a new skill, trade or profession. It is an exciting, engaging way of promoting and demonstrating skills used in the workplace and the jobs needed in the future. It is a great way to ignite a passion to learn, to raise the profile of WorldSkills UK, and boost the reputation and awareness of your organisation whilst doing so. We are encouraging partners to badge their existing have a go activity as part of the WorldSkills UK campaign as a simple way of showcasing their support and involvement in competitions. The toolkit gives examples of past successful have a gos alongside Communications support. To note: this is for un-funded Have a Go activity. In the lead up to The Skills Show – providers were given the opportunity to bid for ESF towards their Have a Go campaign. Details are in the toolkit.

Managed by the NAS, working with industry partners and the Devolved Nations. Competition partners

Managed by the NAS, working with industry partners and the Devolved Nations. Media partners Supported by:

WorldSkills UK Champions Originally set up as 9 regional Champions – (england) and 3 Devolved Administrations. Principals from key colleges who have been involved in competitions for a number of years. Managed by Patrick Gormley, National competitions team. This group has grown into the AoC Portfolio Group and is co-managed by Patrick and David Smith. WorldSkills Leads An area representative from SFA and NAS have been tasked with the role of promoting competitions in their area, relying on the Divisional and National Marcomms teams to provide materials needed to sell the concept of competitions. We work with Rachel Malic and Jill Goddard when sending information to the group and attend their regular meetings to update them on Comms activity and work with them on relevant opportunities – events / speaker opps. WSUK Marcomms group Including representatives from: SFA, NAS, The Skills Show, AoC. Working groups

14 November 2012 WSUK National Competitions launched at The Skills Show. 15 November 2012 – 10 February 2013 Stakeholders invited to register interest on the WorldSkills UK website A phased retention campaign will feed interested stakeholders with pre-competition preparation information and WorldSkills UK and Apprenticeships news. Monthly e-newsletter to over 10,000 opted in warm contacts across FE, private training providers, employers, sponsors & general stakeholders. 11 February 2013 Competition registrations open – 6 week campaign launched 22 March 2013 Competition registrations close The Skills Show is an initiative that is jointly supported by the Skills Funding Agency and the National Apprenticeship Service WorldSkills UK 2012/13 Key dates

Resources Hub – online and available to all - Brand guidelines - Key messages - WorldSkills UK info leaflets: education / employers / young people & parents - Toolkits: Schools / Pre-competition activity / Have a Go - Guides: ‘Inspiring Excellence’ embedding competitions into education and training (key benefits) - Artwork – banner stands / promotional materials - Media guidance - PR templates - Social media guidance - Social media themes & links to all our channels - Photography and Video to use - New WorldSkills UK video please watch: The Skills Show is an initiative that is jointly supported by the Skills Funding Agency and the National Apprenticeship Service Resources Hub Worldskillsuk.org/resourceshub

Detailing the competition journey, the process, ways to get involved, how to promote involvement and support, the skills available and our partners. The Skills Show is an initiative that is jointly supported by the Skills Funding Agency and the National Apprenticeship Service 3 main information pieces: 1.Schools, Colleges & Training Providers 2.Employers 3.Young people & parents

Partners can access all our materials through the website: worldskillsuk.org/resourceshub Hard copies: The main 3 pieces, banner stands are kept in storage with CDL. Please speak to Jasmine for quantities. Accessing resources

Squad UK microsite available with all info on competitors, training managers and personal development tutors. Squad UK resources hub: Resources - Searchable PDF with profiles of all competitors – search via skill / region - Information pieces - Branding / artwork / guidelines - PR & Media guidance - Social media guidance / links to our channels, photography & video content Team UK selection for WorldSkills Leipzig 2013 – WC 4 March 2013 various venues TBC Team UK send off for WorldSkills Leipzig 2013 – 28 June venue TBC WorldSkills Leipzig 2013 – 2-7 July 2013 Squad UK & WorldSkills Leipzig 2013

worldskillsuk.org worldskillsuk.org/resourceshub Facebook: WorldSkills UK – Official Youtube: wsukofficial Instagram: worldskillsuk Flickr: WorldSkills UK k.apprenticeships.org.uk/squad-team/home Useful links

Head of Communications PR, Media Guidance & Media Partners: Branding, Marketing & Resources Hub: Case studies: Events: Alumni: Website: Social media, photography & video: Useful contacts – Marcomms Team