The North West has got talent

It's official, the North West really has got talent. 21 year old Joe Massie from Liverpool has returned from the WorldSkills Competition in Calgary with a bronze medal for floristry.

The biennial WorldSkills Competition, the skills equivalent of the Olympics, is a totally unique event. Over four days of tough competition, 900 young people from 46 nations across the world test themselves against rigorous international standards with the ultimate prize of winning gold, silver or bronze for their country.

Team UK, Britain's representative at the competition, triumphed as the 26-strong squad returned home with three gold and six bronze medals. The team was also awarded 14 Medallions of Excellence given to competitors who achieve at least 500 points, deemed the world class standard.

Skills Minister Kevin Brennan, commented: I would like to congratulate each member of Team UK for the hard work and talent they displayed in Calgary. These inspiring young people have demonstrated to the rest of the world just how able and highly skilled the UK is.

"It's more important than ever that we continue to support and invest in the skills of our workforce, helping individuals get into and stay on at work as well as helping businesses stay competitive and prepare for the upturn."      
  
For more information on the WorldSkills Competition visit; WorldSkills