Team UK engineers set for global showdown at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
They are the UK’s finest young engineering professionals – the future of our workforce– and now they stand ready to compete on the world stage in a contest as intense, demanding and prestigious as any global sporting event.
Team UK has been officially announced for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, the international competition known as the “Skills Olympics,” where the world’s most talented apprentices and young professionals go head-to-head in a high-stakes test of skill, precision and innovation.
Representing the UK in engineering will be:
Emily Bettridge, 23, and Liz Hopkinson, 23, competing in Mechatronics. Both are apprentices with Toyota Manufacturing UK.
Oliver Coombs, 20, competing in Additive Manufacturing. He studied at Bath College and works at BIMTek.
Tomas Ankers, 18, competing in CNC Milling. He studied at Coleg Cambria and is an apprentice at Electroimpact in Wales.
Caolan McCartan, 24, and Patrick Sheerin, 24, competing in Industry 4.0. Both studied at Southern Regional College, Northern Ireland and Patrick works at A J Power.
Stuart Lyons, 21, from Hamilton, competing in Mechanical Engineering CAD. He studied at New College Lanarkshire and works at Glacier Energy.
Madeleine Warburton, 20, from Leicestershire, competing in Renewable Energy. She studied at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and is an apprentice with RWE.
Elyot Harmston, 23, competing in Aircraft Maintenance. He works at The Shuttleworth Collection.
Ruth Douglas, 21, competing in Chemical Laboratory Technician. She trains at Southern Regional College and works at Almac in Northern Ireland.
Jonathan Gough, 22, from Northern Ireland, competing in Electrical Installation. He trained at Southern Regional College and runs his own business.
Selected, mentored and trained by WorldSkills UK, Team UK brings together 26 competitors at the very top of their fields. These individuals are among the most highly skilled young professionals anywhere in the world. Competing against the best from over 80 countries, Team UK will showcase world-class expertise across a diverse range of disciplines. Each competition is a high-performance test of precision and endurance.
WorldSkills is globally recognised as the ultimate benchmark of skills excellence, where nations go head-to-head to demonstrate their ability to power future industries and economic growth. This year’s event in Shanghai is expected to attract more than 250,000 visitors, alongside government leaders, global employers and education experts.
Pearson, the lifelong learning company, is the official partner of Team UK for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.
Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive of WorldSkills UK, said: “WorldSkills Shanghai brings together the world’s best young talent to compete against the highest international standards, giving the UK a powerful global platform to showcase its skills excellence.
“At a time when some employers are sceptical about employing young people, Team UK demonstrates just how important young professionals are to the workforce. These technicians bring an incredibly valuable mix of world-class technical skills, strong employability skills and a mindset to succeed. If we are serious about tackling the NEET challenge, we need to get more young people work-ready, and skills competitions are a proven way to boost engagement in training and readiness for employment.”
Tomas Ankers, who will compete in CNC Milling, said: “It hasn’t fully sunk in yet — I don’t think I can describe what it feels like to be told I’ve made Team UK. I know everyone at Electroimpact will be over the moon. WorldSkills UK Competitions have been such an important part of my journey; they helped me secure my apprenticeship by giving me the experience and confidence to stand out in my interview. It’s an amazing feeling to now be continuing that journey all the way to China.”
Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director of Pearson Qualifications, said: “Every member of Team UK has earned their place through exceptional dedication and commitment to their chosen fields, representing the very best of our nation’s talent. WorldSkills Shanghai is an opportunity to celebrate their technical expertise and the determination and ambition it takes to set new benchmarks on the global stage. Pearson is proud to support Team UK as they take on this extraordinary challenge and inspire future generations.”
WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 takes place from 22–27 September and will feature around 1,500 young people from over 80 countries.
To find out more, see www.worldskills.org/what/competitions/worldskills-shanghai-2026.
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