The 37 women and men, the best in their nations, won a total of 19 medals - 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal and 15 medallions of excellence (achieving world-class standard) at the ‘Skills Olympics’.

The impressive results represent an amazing success for WorldSkills UK, which selects and trains the team and works to mainstream excellence in education and industry.

Wall and floor tiler Mark Scott from Glasgow

They were testament to the remarkable breadth and depth of skills that the UK offers the World.

Haydn Jakes aged 23 from Cambridge won Gold in Aircraft Maintenance and Rebecca West aged 22 from Lewes won Gold in Beauty Therapy.

Car Painter Conor McKevitt, aged 22 from Mallusk, Newtonabbey, Northern Ireland, won silver and Hairdresser Phoebe McLavy, aged 20 from Carmarthen won bronze.

Fifteen Team UK competitors won the coveted Medallions of Excellence which means they are of ‘world-class standard’.

They were:

• Electrical Installer Thomas Lewis, 21 from Maesteg,  
• Plumber Thomas Thomas, aged 20 from Morfa Bychan,
• CNC Miller Elliott Dawson, aged 22 from Blackburn,
• Mechatronics competitors Jack Dakin and Danny Slater, both 25 from Burnaston,
• Florist Elizabeth Newcombe, aged 22 from Dunston,
• Painter & Decorator Callum Bonner, aged 21 from Alloa,
• Wall and Floor Tiler Mark Scott, aged 22 from Glasgow,
• Joiner Christopher Caine, aged 21 from Haverfordwest,
• Lab Technician Tonicha Roberts, aged 19 from Chorley,
• Bricklayer Lewis Greenwood, aged 21 from York
• Landscape Gardeners Sam Taylor, aged 19 from Preston and Shea McFerran aged 20 from Antrim
• Cook Sam Everton, aged 21, from Haverfordwest
• Restaurant Services expert Collette Gorvett, aged 20 from Swansea
• Refrigeration & Airconditioning engineer Orlando Rawlings, aged 21 from Grimsby
• Electronics Expert Thomas Andrews, aged 21 from Alton

The event, the 45th WorldSkills Finals, which takes place every two years, is considered to be the ultimate litmus test to compare countries’ readiness to compete economically.

Painter & decorator Callum Bonner from Alloa

More than a quarter of a million people gathered in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan for the spectacular closing ceremony which was addressed by President Vladimir Putin.

The WorldSkills Opening and Closing Ceremonies were televised in the UK for the very first time.

Dr Neil Bentley-Gockmann OBE, CEO of WorldSkills UK, said: “This is a fantastic result for the team and the UK as a whole – I couldn’t be prouder. This was the ultimate test and they stepped up to the mark”

 “The members of Team UK, all under 25 years, championed the UK focus on skills development in front of a global audience, sending a strong message that the UK is a world-class place to invest, do business and create jobs. 

 “Governments, education and industry need to continue to work with us to help make sure the UK stays at the cutting edge of global best practice in skills development.”