WorldSkills Takes Gold, Silver and Bronze at Chelsea Flower Show

LONDON, May 24, 2011 -

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 (
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 (
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
(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 (
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 www.worldskillslondon2011.com

Heather Wilson, +44(0)20-3451-9419 / +44(0)7578-709680 / heather.wilson at bbpr.com