Success at WorldSkills Competition
Scotland achieved 2 Golds, 1 Bronze and a Medallion of Excellence out of a UK total of 3 Golds, 6 Bronzes and 14 Medallions of Excellence. This is the highest medal tally of any previous Scottish team at Team UK at WorldSkills and played a considerable role in the overall UK tally.
The overall position of the team has improved from 11 at WorldSkills Japan 2007 to 7th in Calgary. In comparable terms had the 4 Scots been competing on their own they would have been 1st overall out of the 50 competing countries.
Mark Nevin aged 22, of Nevin of Edinburgh Decorators, won a gold in the painting and decorating competition, while Richard Sagar, also 22, of Eden Electrics Ltd in Langholm took gold in the electrical installation competition.
In addition Mark Nevin achieved Best of Nation for achieving the overall best score of any of the 26 UK team competitors and was 20th overall from all the competitors which totalled over 900.
Katie Watson, aged 21, from Hamilton, who works at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire took bronze in the restaurant service competition, while Martin Eusebi, 21, employed by MB Aerospace in Motherwell, was awarded a medal of excellence in Mechanical Engineering only narrowly missing a bronze medal.
Minister for Schools and Skills, Keith Brown, congratulated them on their medal success and for achieving the highest tally for Scotland at this international skills event and helping play such a considerable roll in the overall UK tally of three gold, six bronze and 14 medallions of excellence.
Mr Brown said:
"WorldSkills - as its title would suggest - is the toughest skills competition in the world. This year, more than 51 countries and around 1000 spectators, aged 16 to 21, have been taking part in 45 different skills categories.
"I was therefore very proud that after rounds of local heats, national competitions and tough UK selection events, that four young people from Scotland were chosen to represent the UK in Canada and given the opportunity to test their skills against the best in the world.
"I'm even more delighted to be able to confirm that each of them will be coming home with a medal - an outstanding achievement for them, their employers and their tutors.
"I want to congratulate all them on them on their awards and wish them continued success in their chosen career. I also hope that other young people in Scotland, who are thinking about entering future heats for the next WorldSkills event due to take place in London in 2011, will be spurred on by their success and will be encouraged to aim high in their chosen skills areas."
The Scottish WorldSkills Calgary 2009 competitors were:
 | Richard Sagar (22), from Langholm in Dumfriesshire is employed with Eden Electrics in the town and has just completed his SJIB apprenticeship under the management of SECTT, including attendance at Dumfries and Galloway College. Richard has always had an interest in physics and maths since school and his employment allows him to get involved in different types of electrical energy work. |
 | Mark Nevin (22) left West Calder High School when he was 16. He discovered he had a passion and a talent for painting and decorating. Following in his father's footsteps, Mark now plays a central role in the family business, Nevin of Edinburgh Decorators. As well as completing his painting and decorating apprenticeship, Mark also successfully completed his SVQ Level 3 at Telford College in Edinburgh |
 | Katie Watson (21) attended Strathaven Academy until she was 17, and recently completed a BA in Hotel and Hospitality Management at Strathclyde University. Her passion for people, good food and hospitality has helped to develop her skills which she is developing further at Gleneagles Hotel as one of their up-and-coming chef de rangs. |
 | Martin Eusebi (21) works as an apprentice draftsman with Motherwell firm MB Aerospace to help develop his career. Martin has been honing his skills as a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) technician with MB Aerospace's Roberts Division which specialises in the design and manufacture of a wide range of subsea, precision machining equipment for the oil & gas industry. |