Cameron Pinder, an apprentice with medical device manufacturer Kirkstall Precision Engineering, won the gold medal at WorldSkills UK in November last year. Speaking at the launch event for the 2025 Leeds Manufacturing Festival, he described what winning has meant to him and why more manufacturers should put young employes forward to compete in the ‘Olympics’ of skills.
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What’s this about WorldSkills?
In a nutshell, WorldSkills is the ‘Olympics’ of workplace skills. Held every two years, the event involves competitors from over 80 countries, competing in around 60 different skills.
So, it’s no small event. Held in Lyon last year, the previous WorldSkills attracted over 250,000 visitors, with over 1,500 young people involved. Surprising then that most people in the UK have never even heard of WorldSkills and its importance isn’t promoted enough.
The competition was created to introduce young people to vocational skills after the second world war, due to a huge skills shortage that threatened a new economic depression. Does that sound familiar?
Maybe, but it also tells me that when people talk about a skills gap, they might just be missing something…
Young people don’t have exposure to industry these days, social media is their lens onto the wider world. Many are unaware of what's out there and fall onto their parents’ advice or their perceptions from the internet.
Of course, industries have changed, culture has changed and the UK has changed. But the next generation are still hungry and keen, they’re just looking for a place that can fulfill their aspirations. For employers, this is a huge opportunity – young people want opportunities to be creative and grow, and that exactly what WorldSkills encourages.
Why should SMEs get involved?
Many people say, “I wish that was a thing when I was younger”, when I mention WorldSkills. The fact is, it likely was around but not well supported, funded or promoted. Not pushing the initiative further in the UK denies young people an opportunity but employers are missing out too.
WorldSkills UK is funded by the UK government and supported by global businesses. Travel, accommodation and training are all covered. There’s support for your company throughout the journey as well. It offers the chance for your apprentices to work with the best equipment and get expert training in their sector, allowing them to progress very quickly and achieve the highest industry standards.
And their progression supports the progression of your business by attracting talented and driven individuals. Apprentices want to develop themselves whenever opportunities are available and the experiences they receive through WorldSkills can change their lives. It can change workplace culture, improve apprenticeship schemes and help develop future leaders.
You will receive promotion of your business, potentially on a global scale alongside some of the world’s biggest brands. Promoting not just the quality of your training schemes, but your reputation as an employer.
How has WorldSkills helped me?
I’ve learnt new skills, utilising CAM software much earlier than would be typical in my role. I’ve also received support and sponsorship from companies with offers of training, access to equipment and software for my development.
Recognition for my achievements and hard work has also motivated me further and encouraged me to play a bigger role in my company, helping develop new apprentices using the WorldSkills training framework.
I’ve also received invitations to attend industry events that help further my career, network and profile.
I’ve been fortunate along the way to be mentored and supported by my colleague Rodrigo da Silva Panifer, who was a Brazilian silver medalist in WorldSkills London 2011, and have the full support of my CEO Adam Thornton.
For now, my training continues. Another UK competitor will be taking the place for CNC Milling in EuroSkills this year, but the game isn’t over. The decider for the UK Shanghai competitor will be held March 2026, and I’m not stopping now.
