Wales' Top Skills Talent Competes Against Europe's Best at EuroSkills 2025
Talent sgiliau gorau Cymru yn cystadlu yn erbyn goreuon Ewrop yn EuroSkills 2025
An impressive team of 7 talented highly-trained competitors from Wales will form part of Team UK at Europe's largest skills competition this autumn.
Team UK consists of 19 competitors from across the UK, with Team Wales making up approximately 37% of the team. Team UK will compete in 17 skills at EuroSkills.
Wales’ best young apprentices and learners are heading to Denmark in September to test themselves against their peers at EuroSkills Herning 2025.
Selected and trained in skills excellence by WorldSkills UK - in partnership with lifelong learning company Pearson - the team will compete in a raft of skills and disciplines vital for economic growth.
Team members have already been through months of competition and selection processes and now face the last crucial months of their intensive training programme for this year’s competition.
These will include construction, digital and emerging technologies in the net zero and green industries.
WorldSkills UK uses its participation in the competition to promote skills excellence and embed world-class training standards.
EuroSkills Herning 2025 is also seen as crucial litmus test to measure the UK’s readiness to compete on the global stage at the WorldSkills competition. Known as the ‘skills Olympics’, the next WorldSkills takes place in Shanghai in September 2026.
Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership Jack Sargeant said:
“The young men and women who have been chosen to represent Wales and the UK should be very proud of their achievements. Their dedication has brought them to this point, but it’s more than that. They train to such high standards to be able to compete, and those standards come back into the workplace, lifting the next generation of talent.
“These young professionals are actively supporting our industry, economic, and productivity growth and I wish every one of them pob lwc.”
Adam Youens, a Coleg Cambria Lecturer in Engineering and WorldSkills UK CNC Training Manager, said:
“Working with these talented young individuals has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Their dedication, passion, and resilience are truly inspiring. As they prepare to showcase their skills on the European stage at EuroSkills, I have no doubt they will make us all proud. This opportunity not only highlights their exceptional abilities but also underscores the importance of investing in the next generation of skilled professionals.
“Moreover, this journey has significantly benefited our colleges by enhancing our own expertise. The rigorous training and preparation have fostered a culture of excellence and innovation among our staff and students alike. I am confident their participation will open doors to new opportunities and set a benchmark for future competitors."
Notes to editors
About the Welsh Team
- Restaurant Services: Yuliia Batrak, Grwp Llandrillo Menai (Coleg Llandrillo), Wales
- Electronics: Evan Klimazsewski, Grwp Llandrillo Menai (Coleg Menai) / Lockheed Martin UK, Wales
- CNC Milling: Tomas Ankers, Coleg Cambria / Electroimpact, Wales
- Web Technologies: Finn Gallagher, Cardiff University, Wales
- Cooking: Gabrielle Wilson, NPTC Group of Colleges, Wales
- Graphic Design: Melody Cheung, Bridgend College, Wales
- Welding: Luke Roberts, Pembrokeshire College / Haven Engineering, Wales
About EuroSkills Competition
Held every two years, EuroSkills, organised by WorldSkills Europe, sees hundreds of young people under the age of 25 from 33 countries across Europe come together to compete for the chance to become the Best in Europe in their chosen skill or profession. Supported by Members, Sponsors and Partners, industries, governments, volunteers, and educational institutions, WorldSkills Europe is making a direct impact on raising the level of skills throughout Europe.
The EuroSkills Competition in 2025 takes place in Herning, Denmark from 9 – 13 September.
This EuroSkills competition is set to be the biggest and best so far. Approximately 600 young professionals representing 33 countries will participate in 38 skill competitions for the chance to become the best in Europe in their chosen fields.
About Inspiring Skills
Inspiring Skills Excellence in Wales is a Welsh Government-funded initiative dedicated to promoting vocational education and training across the nation. Through its flagship programme, Skills Competition Wales, it provides students, trainees, and apprentices with opportunities to challenge themselves and enhance their skills across various sectors.
Beyond national competitions, the initiative supports Welsh competitors selected for WorldSkills UK and international events such as WorldSkills and EuroSkills, offering additional training and mentorship to help them excel on the global stage.
About WorldSkills UK
WorldSkills UK is a four nations partnership between education, industry and UK governments. It is a world-class skills network acting as a catalyst for:
- raising standards, through international benchmarking and professional development
- championing future skills, through analysis of rapidly changing economic demand
- empowering young people, from all backgrounds, through competitions-based training and careers advocacy.
For more information, please visit worldskillsuk.org
Additional quotes
Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “We are so excited to be supporting and nurturing this fantastic group of young professionals as they head for Denmark to compete.
“They will be tested to the highest standards, showcasing the skills that global employers are looking for, and will return to the UK with the knowledge and experience that will turbo charge their careers.
“EuroSkills is ultimately a test of how internationally competitive UK skills are. It gives us the impetus to raise standards at home and help more young people get high quality jobs.”