At WorldSkills, in May 2005, sponsored by Festo, young people under 23 years of age from all over the world compete in the skills of their vocational fields.

Matt Goodwin and James Dellacioppa are honing their mechatronics skills at the Festo Didactic centre in Northampton, in preparation for competition against peers from around the globe at the WorldSkills event in Helsinki, May 2005. These two 20 year-olds have just completed mechatronics apprenticeships with automotive supplier Federal Mogul Friction Products, and have already won the UK leg of the mechatronics skills competition. If approved by UK Skills in January, they will represent their country at the global competition.

'High quality engineering skills really are the lifeblood of truly competitive and innovative industrial organisations', said Graham Spencer of Festo Didactic.

'We welcome this opportunity to help develop the next generation of mechatronic engineers, here in the UK.' Festo sponsors the mechatronics competition at WorldSkills and provides the training rigs for the event, which allow manufacturing automation stations of varying complexity to be built.

Festo is also a global sponsor of the WorldSkills organisation - the not-for-profit body that promotes higher standards in vocational education and training.

Over its 50-year history, WorldSkills (formerly known as the 'Skill Olympics') has come to symbolise the pinnacle of excellence in vocational training.

Every two years hundreds of young skilled people, accompanied by their teachers and trainers, gather together from around the world to compete before the public in the skills of their various trades and test themselves against demanding international standards.

They represent the best of their peers drawn from regional and national skill competitions held currently in 37 countries.

The experience and results provide valuable feedback both to the individuals and the systems and enterprises in which they are being trained.

The competitions are particularly effective in the context of providing positive career role models for school aged youngsters.