A Mechanical Engineering CAD specialist and an IT Network Systems Administrator are the two young college-trained Scots who have been selected for Team UK to compete in the ‘Skills Olympics’ later this year.

All aged under 25, the two will compete in the WorldSkills 2025 Competition in Shanghai, China from 22-27 September.

Stuart Lyons who trained at New College Lanarkshire and works at Glacier Energy, and Charlie Priestley who trained at North East Scotland College and now attends Robert Gordon University and also works at North East Scotland College will represent Team UK in the event having already triumphed in the national finals.  

Selected, mentored and trained by WorldSkills UK, Team UK brings together a group of competitors at the very top of their fields. These individuals are among the most highly skilled young professionals anywhere in the world.

Competing against the best from over 80 countries, Team UK will showcase world-class expertise across a diverse range of disciplines with each competition being a high-performance test of precision and endurance.  

WorldSkills is globally recognised as the ultimate benchmark of skills excellence, where nations go head-to-head to prove their ability to power future industries and economic growth. This year’s event in Shanghai is expected to attract more than 250,000 visitors, alongside government leaders, global employers and education experts.

Team UK’s journey to this moment has been years in the making. Competitors have progressed through rigorous WorldSkills UK regional and national competitions, followed by intensive specialist training both in the UK and internationally. In the final months before Shanghai, Team UK will undergo further high-performance preparation to ensure they are ready to compete at the highest possible level.

Gavin Donoghue, Chief Executive Officer of Colleges Scotland, said: 

“These two young people have demonstrated exceptional skill and commitment through their world-class training at Scottish colleges. This international competition provides an invaluable opportunity to showcase their talents on the world stage while competing with peers from around the globe. We wish them the very best of luck.”