Worldskills Competition

[Droogs]

I see the above competition has managed to raise its profile in the main media, whith a short article on theBBC's website. It does make interesting reading about how the winners are treated around the world. What do you guys think is this kind of thing something that should be promoted more. if so , how?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33979182

 

[Phil Pascoe]

A great idea - probably beyond most politicians to understand - it's only doing things with your hands, isn't it.

 

[AndyT]

It sounds like a really good idea. I'd love to see craftspeople get some of the riches and recognition that sportspeople get.

I noticed that the BBC report ended up by saying that a UK competitor - Edward Harringman - won a gold medal for his cabinetmaking, but their website seemed not to have room for any pictures or even a link to his website - http://harringmancabinetmaking.com.

He's only 21 but seems to be running a company and making some excellent pieces - just the sort of person we ought to be celebrating.

 

[AES]

Thanks for posting Droogs, and thanks for the link Andy T.

Personally I really do think the UK is "a bit behind" other countries when it comes to promoting "only hand work." There are enough examples of really good stuff here and on other sites but to "the general public" (and most officialdom) the attitude does seem to be "it's only hand work".

More power to their elbows, all of them, UK contestants and all the rest. One only has to look at the history of UK from the start of the Industrial Revolution to learn that "making stuff" is vitally important - and conversely, in today's world "Marketing flower arranging" is rather less so!

And from a purely personal viewpoint I was really chuffed to learn that aircraft/engine maintenance was one of the categories (AND that Silver in that group was won by a UK team). Wonder who won gold?

AES

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Funny, I've been listening to V. Feltz on Jeremy Vine about the impossibility of getting apprentices some people commenting that they started learning with their father, or in holiday jobs at fourteen years old - and our governments (of both persuasions) insist on universal ongoing education. We'll have schools full of illiterate, innumerate seventeen and eighteen year olds who don't want to be there who should have been training (for an actual job) at fourteen.

 

[Droogs]

Apart from seeing how well representied we were, the main theme that caught my attention is the lack of recognition. surely this type of thing would be an ideal TV competion programme. along the lines of bake off etc, but with a real message and point. If people got into watchin this kind of thing then perhaps they may realise the talent and effort that goes into making in all the trades and start to understand the need for proper decent apprenticeships and that fact that the skills used to make furniture etc rather than chipboard flat packs are hard earned and deserve a decent price