Evan, Madeleine and Yuliia officially selected in WorldSkills 2026 ‘Squad UK’

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai learners Evan Klimaszewski, Madeleine Warburton and Yuliia Batrak have been officially selected in the UK squad preparing for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.

Evan, Madeleine and Yuliia will now join an intensive 18-month training programme as they bid to make the final cut for the ‘Skills Olympics’ in China.

Team UK will compete in more than 30 disciplines at the international skills showdown, which will take place from September 22-27 next year.

A training squad has been selected for each discipline - but only one competitor in each discipline will make ‘Team UK’ and board the plane to Shanghai.

Evan, who is studying a Higher National Certificate in Engineering at Coleg Menai’s Llangefni campus, has been selected in the Electronics squad.

Madeleine, an RWE apprentice wind turbine technician studying at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhyl campus, is in the Renewable Energy squad.

Yuliia, a Level 3 Professional Cookery student at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos-on-Sea campus, has been named in the Restaurant Service squad.

Madeleine and Yuliia have already taken part in training events with their respective squads, prior to today’s official announcement of ‘Squad UK’.

All three have been selected following their success in the WorldSkills UK national finals in recent years.

The squad for Shanghai 2026 will also feature Grŵp Llandrillo Menai staff, as Coleg Menai lecturers Bryn Jones and Geraint Rowlands have been appointed the WorldSkills UK training managers for additive manufacturing and electronics respectively.

Aled Jones-Griffith, Grŵp Llandrillo Menai Chief Executive, said: “We are immensely proud that Evan, Madeleine and Yuliia have been selected in 'Squad UK' ahead of WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.

"Their selection is fully deserved following their excellent performances at the WorldSkills UK national finals, in which they demonstrated not only their high level of skills but also their determination to succeed in their chosen career paths.

"Being selected for Squad UK will provide them with invaluable opportunities to develop their skills even further, and we hope to see them representing Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, Wales and the UK in China next year. Pob lwc pawb.”

Aled added: "We are also very proud that two of our staff members, Bryn and Geraint, have been appointed as training managers for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. This is testament to the Grŵp's high-quality teaching which is helping to develop the skills needed by the economy and employers in North Wales."

WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 will see 1,500 young people from more than 80 countries travel to China to compete in technical skill disciplines ranging from engineering, manufacturing and technology through to creative, digital and hospitality.

They will compete in front of an audience of 250,000 - including government representatives, educationalists and leading employers from across the globe.

Ben Blackledge, WorldSkills UK chief executive, said: “Congratulations to Evan, Yuliia and Madeleine on being selected for our training programme for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. Together with the other members on our programme, they will be developing the right skills to fuel business growth across our economy.

“With WorldSkills being hosted in Shanghai next year, it provides a fantastic platform for us to work closely with China, where we know skills excellence is a priority, to collaborate, innovate and learn from the very best in the world.”

Lifelong learning manager Pearson is the official partner of Team UK for WorldSkills Shanghai, following a successful partnership at WorldSkills Lyon last year.

Freya Thomas Monk, managing director of Pearson Qualifications, said: “Pearson is proud to sponsor Team UK. Boosting the profile and prestige of technical and vocational education is incredibly important to us and I wish this talented group of 86 young people from across the country the best of luck as they begin their training programme towards competing in Shanghai.”