Skilled youth sought to strut their stuff on the world stage

Youth Skills New Zealand (YSNZ) is looking for young people interested in competing in a variety of trades and is also offering new trades such as confectioner-pastry cook and aviation maintenance, where winning could lead to the global WorldSkills competition.

Albie Lund, CEO of YSNZ, says new skills are always developing and moving from demonstration to full competition status at WorldSkills, especially in the computer arena. The organisation runs SkillEX competitions in 23 traditional categories such as construction, electrical, engineering, automotive and hospitality through to newer trades such as information technology and PC related fields. Most competitors come from the training sector with any trainee eligible to compete, but only those under 22 years of age (24 for some categories) can compete at WorldSkills competitions.

The eight hour regional competitions result in winners competing in a three day national competition. The winners whose category is selected for the WorldSkills competition will receive support and additional training in preparation for the global event.

Lund says competitors come back highly motivated from overseas and have a much clearer focus on what they want from their lives. "It's a great team building exercise and life-long friends are made," she says..

This also has a flow-on effect for businesses whose trainees are involved, as they benefit from more dedicated staff and get confirmation that their trade training practices are up-to-date, ensuring they are competitive in the marketplace.

YSNZ, a not-for-profit organisation, came back with a silver medal and several diplomas of excellence this year from Finland so they are looking to improve with gold in 2007. Lund says that the funding YSNZ currently receives is millions behind what other countries are supported with, both from government and industry. YSNZ is looking for sponsors

* Interested competitors and businesses can contact YSNZ head office at (09) 634 6917.