Three Goldsmiths’ Company apprentices, representing UK jewellery skills, on the road to Russia!
07 Mar 2019
Three talented Goldsmiths’ Company Apprentices, who are honing their skills as employees of Mappin & Webb, B&M Bijoux and The House of Garrard, are taking on their toughest challenge to date this week, competing to represent the UK in jewellery making at WorldSkills Kazan 2019 this summer.
Known as the ‘Skills Olympics’, the WorldSkills Competition sees the world’s leading apprentices and students battle it out to win a place on the medals table in their chosen skill. The UK is currently tenth in the WorldSkills rankings following its medal success across disciplines at last year’s WorldSkills Competition in Abu Dhabi in 2017, where Goldsmiths’ Company Apprentice Alexander Wood from Ian Read Setting took 7th place out of 17 competitors in the skill of jewellery making.
Sam McMahon from Mappin & Webb, George Shembri from B&M Bijoux and Robert Dean from The House of Garrard are stepping into Alexander’s shoes as they are competing for a place in the Team UK for WorldSkills Kazan 2019 after excelling in the WorldSkills UK National Competitions. All three started their careers on the prestigious, fully-funded Goldsmiths’ Centre Foundation Programme before becoming highly skilled Goldsmiths’ Company Apprentices in diamond mounting, receiving additional skills training at the Goldsmiths’ Centre during their apprenticeships.
They demonstrate their outstanding skills in a temporary workshop environment; alongside over 500 young people under the age of 23.
Peter Taylor
Peter Taylor explains: “WorldSkills is the ultimate global competition for our Goldsmiths’ Company Apprentices, testing their dexterity and maturity as they demonstrate their outstanding skills in a temporary workshop environment; alongside over 500 young people under the age of 23 representing all types of disciplines. We wish our three competitors the very best of luck as they compete for a coveted place to represent the UK at WorldSkills Kazan 2019.”
