Business leaders urged to optimise potential: Business leaders have been urged to help young people get on the career ladder at the start of the UK’s biggest gateway-to-work event which got underway at the NEC, Birmingham today. (21.11.19)

More than 80,000 youngsters have pre-registered for the three-day event, WorldSkills UK LIVE, which is offering in excess of 20,000 ‘opportunities’.

Rooney Anand, Chairman of WorldSkills UK, and former head of FTSE 200 company Greene King, made the plea at a gathering of business leaders at the launch of WorldSkills UK LIVE – which included Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street.

“I believe passionately that we as business leaders must help young people fulfil their potential and realise their ambitions and WorldSkills UK is one of the very best vehicles to do that.

“Our job here is vital and to help them take that crucial first step on their own personal career ladder. We can not only help the young people themselves but the organisations that they will one day work for.

“WorldSkills UK is already making a huge difference to young people’s lives – but I know we can do more – and I am immensely excited about our plans to bring international best practice to the UK from the rest of the World.”

He went on to say: “WorldSkills UK is unique because we bring together educators, business, governments and young people. We at WorldSkills UK not only believe we make a difference – we know we make a difference.”

WorldSkills UK LIVE, at the NEC, Birmingham, from Nov 21-23 is deemed as the very best event of its kind in Europe, and is brimming with stimulating hands-on exhibits, fascinating talks and Q&A sessions with leading employers and scintillating entertainment.

Dozens of the UK’s major employers, organisations and educators have a high-profile presence at LIVE in their quest to recruit the next generation of high-fliers.  Among them are BAE Systems, Toyota Manufacturing UK, Health Education England, Lloyds Banking Group, the armed forces, Middlesex University, Leicester College and Dudley College of Technology.

For the first time the free to enter interactive event is to be streamed live, with several daily broadcasts ‘Live at LIVE’ on the WorldSkills UK twitter channel and is expected to reach tens of thousands of young people who are unable to travel to the West Midlands.

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