Group Rhodes & Leeds Metropolitan University are Successful at World Skills Competition

A combined team of young engineers from Group Rhodes Limited and Leeds Metropolitan University won Silver in the Industrial Control section of the UK World Skills Competition, based at the NEC in Birmingham, 15-17 November 2012.

The team demonstrated the advantages of industry / university collaboration to produce a control for a fluid flow system, a task that was only bettered by an all university team from Napier University, Edinburgh, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Speaking on behalf of Leeds Metropolitan University, Team Manager, Dr Stephen Wilkinson said:

“I am very proud of the team that worked so hard with the test equipment that we had been given by Siemens plc for the competition, downloading and debugging software and figuring out how the various parts communicated over an industrial network. The event was extremely well attended from around the UK and clearly demonstrated to young people the merit of a vocational education and Apprenticeships.”

Mark Ridgway, Managing Director of Group Rhodes added:

“Industry / university links are very important in today’s fast moving market place, not only to develop new products and technologies but also to address the huge skill shortage in our sector.   The team from Group Rhodes and Leeds Metropolitan University performed exceptionally well to finish as the highest team in the competition with members from both industry and higher education.”

The UK World Skills Competition is an annual three day event at the NEC focussed on inspiring young people to bring skills to life and to change the way we think about skills, training and apprenticeships.   www.worldskillsuk.apprenticeships.org.uk

Speaking on the event the Skills Minister, Matthew Hancock said:

“Creating a highly skilled nation will support our economy, safeguard our industries and improve the prospects of Britain.”