WorldSkills Takes Gold, Silver and Bronze at Chelsea Flower Show

LONDON, May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Judges at the 2011 RHS Chelsea Flower Show have awarded WorldSkills London 2011 a Silver-gilt medal for their hands on educational exhibit "Showcasing Skills that Shape our World".

Created from an original concept by WorldSkills Fashion Expert Victoria Mawhinney with expert content from the Eden Project and consultancy with TV Broadcaster Chris Beardshaw, the WorldSkills exhibit was commended for its innovative design, superior educational value and interactive visitor experience.

WorldSkills competitors also featured strongly in the Young Florist of the Year competition, with Joe Massie, a bronze medallist from WorldSkills Calgary 2009 winning for the third year running and Jessica Andrews, of this year's WorldSkills Squad UK, taking bronze.

Located in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show's Continuous Learning Zone, the WorldSkills exhibit ( http://www.facebook.com/worldskillslondon2011?sk=app_187849597932996) amazed visitors by showing them how plants, combined with skills and human ingenuity, create jobs and wealth around the world. Visitors, including Sir Michael Parkinson, JLS and Dame Helen Mirren, were invited to Have a Go at making mood enhancing floral buttonholes or a glamorous floral hair do.

Visitors also learnt from the Eden Project and City & Guilds about the important role plants play in eco-friendly fashion and beauty. Two wedding dresses created by designer Julie Dutton using sustainable bamboo and silk proved that eco-friendly can also be luxurious and fashion-forward.

Sir Michael and Mary Parkinson, who made buttonholes with students at the stand (see video here ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVjrAT-SfZs)) commented:

"This is absolutely the right idea - it is so important for young people to get out there and have a go!"

Chris Humphries, Chairman of WorldSkills London 2011 (http://www.worldskillslondon2011.com/), said:

"We are thrilled to have been recognised with a medal; the competition was incredibly stiff so this is a huge achievement for us. In the lead-up to WorldSkills London 2011 this October, we are creating one million opportunities for the UK to Have a Go ( http://www.worldskillslondon2011.com/get-involved/have-a-go) at a new skill. The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the perfect forum to showcase skills that focus on people and plants, and I hope that the visitors who joined us found the experience enlightening."

Have a Go activities were led by experts from Merrist Wood College, Pureology, Cookson Precious Metals and Westminster Kingsway College.

For more information on WorldSkills London 2011 Have a Go and to register for complimentary tickets to the event between 5-8 October, please visit http://www.worldskillslondon2011.com