(Issued by The Scottish Executive - enterprise, transport and lifelong learning.)

The UK is bidding against France, Sweden and Australia to host the biggest skills competition in the world in London in 2011.

This competition provides the UK with a fantastic opportunity to showcase its skills on a world stage. Scotland will play an active part not only in 2011, but in events leading up to the competition itself. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will each be given opportunity to host a day at the event, providing each country with a window in which to display its skills, culture and talent.

Scotland's young people can aspire to medal success and be inspired by seeing skills in action, Scotland's employers and training providers can develop young people to compete with the best from the rest of the world,

Scotland’s businesses can show their support for world-class skills through attractive sponsorship packages; and tourism should benefit from competition visitors taking the opportunity to travel.

For now, we need your support to help us win the bid.

For further information, visit the UKskills website - Worldskills page 

You can also register your support online on the UKskills website

The successful bid will be announced in Melbourne on 10 May 2006.