ADY finalists take first steps on the road to Shanghai
Three former Apprentice Decorator of the Year finalists have started training to compete on the global stage as they prepare for WorldSkills Shanghai 2021 as part of Squad UK.
All three competitors impressed our judges at last year’s Apprentice Decorator of the Year (ADY) competition, which marked the 40th year of our sponsorship. Lewis Boyle, who won the silver medal in the 2019 competition, is joined in the squad by 2019 finalists Bridie Kilby and Thomas Nowell – both of whom also competed in the 2018 ADY final.
The three young decorators have joined apprentices from all trades on the WorldSkills UK Talent Programme and will now undergo a rigorous 18-month training programme to put them through their paces and help them hone their skills.
The first squad bootcamp has already taken place, with Lewis, Bridie and Thomas heading to Loughborough University to meet with training managers and the WorldSkills Performance and Wellbeing Team. There, the apprentices were given an introduction to the ‘road to Shanghai’ and discussed how they can ensure they achieve peak performance, including having the right mental attitude.
Later this year, WorldSkills UK will select a group of apprentices from across the trades to compete at EuroSkills Graz in September 2020, before the selection tests take place to determine who will secure a place in the team representing the UK on the ultimate stage in China in 2021.
Over 80 countries and regions take part in WorldSkills, so Lewis, Bridie and Thomas will truly be pitting their talents against the very best in the world.
For more information and to find your nearest Crown Trade stockist, please visit www.crowntrade.co.uk, email Info@crowntrade.co.uk or call 0330 024 0297. You can also follow @CrownTradePaint on Twitter, CrownTradePaint on Facebook or Crown Paints on LinkedIn.