The WorldSkills UK Competition Rules should be read in conjunction with the WorldSkills UK Terms and Conditions and the competition-specific rules, if applicable.  The competition-specific rules can be found within each competition brief or on the competition web page. In the event of a conflict, the competition-specific rules are overridden by the WorldSkills UK Competition Rules. Terms of Reference can be found on at the end of this page.

 

 

1.0       Conditions of entry

 

• WorldSkills UK competitions are open to all, but are targeted at those people who are employed, currently studying or have recently completed their studies (i.e. within the last 12 months) in a relevant programme of study.  

 

• Competitors must be at least 16 years of age on 1^st September 2011 to be eligible to compete.

 

• Past competitors may enter WorldSkills UK competitions again provided that they meet the competition specific entry criteria.

 

• Competitors may only enter one competition in any given competition cycle.

 

• Competitors must have the support of their school, college, university, training provider or employer to participate in a WorldSkills UK competition.

 

• By entering into a WorldSkills UK competition, Competitors and their Representatives are declaring that they will abide by the general and specific competition rules.

 

• Upon winning a gold medal at a UK Final, the competitor becomes ineligible to compete in WorldSkills UK competitions in future years.

 

• Representatives and Competitors must ensure that the competition brief is read thoroughly and that they are confident with all aspects of the competition. They should also be familiar with the procedures for being invited to heats and UK Finals, and for awarding medals at a UK Final.

 

• Representatives and Competitors are responsible for covering any travel expenses incurred in participating in WorldSkills UK competitions, unless they are informed otherwise.

 

• Special dispensation may be granted for those that have declared a physical or learning difficulty prior to the competition.

 

• Representatives and Competitors should understand the process for selecting competitors for international competitions. By signing the competition register, each Competitor confirms that they have read and understood the process. Please refer to Section 7 for guidance on the selection process for international competitions.

 

• Representatives and Competitors should be aware that not all WorldSkills UK competitions lead to international competitions.

 

• By signing the competition register, each Competitor gives permission to WorldSkills UK and the Competition Organiser to use non-confidential information from the competition registration, relevant photographs and video film for any publicity purposes in relation to vocational education, training and the competition.

 

 

2.0       During the competition

 

• Competitors who arrive late for the competition will not automatically receive additional time.  However, this may be granted in exceptional circumstances by the Nominated Competitions Agent.

 

• Unless otherwise stated there must be no communication between fellow competitors, the audience, your representatives or competition staff during the competition itself.

 

• Competitors must start and finish work when instructed to do so by the judges or Nominated Competitions Agent.
   
• Competitors may be allowed a familiarisation period before the start of the competition. Additional information may be distributed/circulated in advance by the Nominated Competitions Agent.  Competitors may ask questions during this defined period.

 

• Competitors wishing to leave the competition area while the competition is in progress must obtain the permission of the judges or Nominated Competitions Agent.

 

• Should a Competitor feel unwell at any stage of the competition, he or she should let a judge or Nominated Competitions Agent aware immediately.  

 

• Competitors who need to repair their own tools or equipment during the competition will not be given additional time unless agreed by the judges or the Nominated Competitions Agent.

 

• Competitors may not take any of the following into the competition area unless otherwise instructed: personal electronic devices including mobile phones, mp3 players, written notes, sketches, special aids or other information relevant to the project.

 

• The Nominated Competitions Agent will ensure that marking is undertaken fairly and will calculate marks to establish placings and awards.

 

• Judges are not allowed to discuss marks or provide one to one feedback to Competitors unless it has been built into the competition programme.  This feedback should be consistent and follow the same format.

 

• Should a Competitor feel at a disadvantage for any reason before or during the competition, he or she should bring it to the Nominated Competitions Agent’s attention immediately, following the complaints and appeals procedure.

 

 

3.0       Health and Safety

 

• The Competition Organiser and/or the Nominated Competitions Agent will carry out a safety check of the competition site prior to the start of the competition. 

 

• All Competitors, Representatives, and Judges are to receive a health and safety briefing before the start of the competition. 

 

• Competitors must wear appropriate clothing and safety equipment in accordance to health and safety regulations for the skill, such as glasses, gloves and ear defenders.

 

• All electrical equipment brought by Competitors or Representatives should be PAT tested, and is used at the competitors’ own risk.

 

• Adhering to health and safety practices is the responsibility of each competitor. Failure to do so may result in disqualification from the competition, and being asked to leave the competition venue.

 

• Safe work practices of the relevant industry and the venue must be adhered to at all times.

 

 

4.0       After the heat (if applicable)

 

• First, second and third places are awarded at competition heats.

 

• Depending on the type of competition, it may not be possible for results to be disclosed on the day of the competition. It will be clearly explained at the beginning of the competition during the briefing if this is the case.

 

• Competition results may be announced at the end of each heat, at the discretion of the Competition Organiser.

 

• Challenges to the results will be considered through the competition Complaints and Appeals Procedure, as described in section 8.

 

• Competitors taking part in heats will receive their certificates of participation at the end of the competition. A summary of their marks will be sent by email after the last competition heat has taken place.

 

• Competitors submitting work to a passive stage will receive their certificates of participation by post to the address entered at the point of registration. A summary of their marks will be sent by email after the competition judging has taken place.

 

• The highest scoring Competitors across all heats who meet the required standards will be invited to participate in the UK Final.

 

 

5.0       After the UK Final

 

• Gold, Silver, Bronze and Highly Commended medals are awarded at UK Finals.

 

• Where possible, Awards will be announced at the end of the UK Final, once verified by WorldSkills UK. If the nature of the competition task does not allow this, Competitors will be informed during the briefing.

 

• Challenges to the results will be considered through the competition Complaints and Appeals Procedure, as described in see section 8.  The following describes the procedure for awarding medals at UK finals:

 

·         Medals will be awarded based on the average score for each UK final

·         Competitors/Teams achieving above the average score will receive a medal

·         Competitors/Teams achieving the highest score will receive a Gold medal

·         Competitors/Teams achieving the 2^nd highest score will receive a Silver medal

·         Competitors/Teams achieving the 3^rd highest score will receive a Bronze medal

·          If Competitors/Teams scores are equal within medal status, joint Gold, Silver or Bronze medals will be awarded

·         Competitors/Teams achieving above the average score and who are not receiving Gold, Silver or Bronze medals will receive Highly Commended awards

·         Competitors/Teams achieving below the average score will not receive an award.

 

• If a UK Final comprises of fewer than three Competitors or Teams, medals will not be given basedon the average score: Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded. A Gold medal will be awarded to the highest scorer; however, should there be a large margin in scores between the winner and 2^nd and 3^rd scores it will be at the discretion of the competition organiser and WorldSkills UK as to whether Silver and Bronze medals are to be awarded

 

 

• The completed project work is the property of the Competition Organisers who may pass it back to Competitors, where possible and at the discretion of the Competition Organiser. 

 

• Competitors at UK finals will receive a summary of their marks by email after the competition has taken place. Gold, Silver, Bronze and Highly Commended winners will receive a medal for their achievement at the competition once marks have been verified by WorldSkills UK, where possible. If the nature of the competition task does not allow this, they will be sent by post after the competition to the address entered at the point of registration. Certificates for medal winners will also be sent at this time. 

 

• In those competitions which lead straight to a UK Final without any heats, competitors can expect to receive their certificate of participation at the UK Final.

 

• Gold medal winners at UK finals are not automatically selected to represent the UK in international competitions.  Please refer to Section 7 for guidance on the selection process for international competitions.

 

•      
•       6.0       Overall responsibility

 

1. Responsibility for the overall conduct of the competition, heats and the UK Final rests with the Competition Organiser approved in this role by WorldSkills UK.

 

      

      7.0        WorldSkills selection process for international competitions

 

• The NAS Competitions teammakes the final decision on any issues regarding the short-list, Squad and Team UK, at every stage of the competition journey and selection process.
• There is no guaranteed entry to the WorldSkills International Competition, even if you win a UK Final.
• WorldSkills UK invites the most promising national competitors, who meet the eligibility criteria, to compete to join a long-list of competitors for the WorldSkills Competition.
• Those selected for the short-list are trained and then compete for potential inclusion in Squad UK for the WorldSkills Competition.
• Squad members then undergo a rigorous programme of training, support and appraisal.
• Finally, they compete at a selection event to decide who wins a place in Team UK.

 

·         To be a member of Team UK for the WorldSkills Competition a competitor must meet the eligibility:

·         be not more 22 years of age (25 for certain specified competitions) in the year of the Competition

 

• and either to:

 

·         have been continuously resident in the UK for at least 2 years,

·         have been educated and trained in a UK education, or training, establishment, and

·         hold one or more related UK qualifications,

 

• or

 

·         hold, or be eligible to hold, a UK passport

 

• The next WorldSkills International competition will take place in Leipzig in 2013. Competitors taking part in WorldSkills UK competitions in the 2011/12 cycle will be eligible to be considered for the team going to WorldSkills Leipzig 2013.
• WorldSkills International eligibility criteria states that competitors for the WorldSkills Leipzig 2013, must be born on or after 1 January 1991, and for Mechatronics and Aeronautical Engineering competitors must be born on or after 1 January 1988.
• Not all WorldSkills UK competitions lead to WorldSkills International competitions.

 

 

8.0       Complaints and Appeals Procedure for WorldSkills UK Competitions

 

This procedure is in accordance with the general principles and practices adopted by the NAS Competitions Department; however, the precise terms of this procedure apply specifically to WorldSkills UK competitions, whether regional or national.

 

• Stage 1 of the procedure

 

If a Competitor, directly or through his/her representative, wishes to formally appeal against the conduct and/or the result of a WorldSkills UK competition, in the first instance he/she, or their Representative on their behalf, should seek to resolve the concern at the competition with the Competition Organiser or the Nominated Competitions Agent. Any complaints should be formally documented, noting who made the complaint, when, where, to whom, regarding what and whether a resolution was reached.

 

• Stage 2 of the procedure

 

If Stage 1 has not resolved the concern, the competitor, or their Representative, should write to the NAS Programme Office, giving full details of the concern, at enquiries@worldskillsuk.org.

 

The Programme Office will investigate the concern and respond formally within 14 days.

 

 

      9.0  Terms of Reference

 

Within the WorldSkills UK Competition rules the following terms shall mean:

 

Term	Definition
Awards	refer to the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Highly Commended medals allocated to Competitors or Teams at UK Finals.
Competition Organiser	is a person or organisation responsible for the design and delivery of individual or clusters of WorldSkills UK competitions.
Competitors	are those who will compete in a WorldSkills UK competition. This may also include teams of competitors for some competitions.
Nominated Competitions Agent	is a member of staff from the organisation leading on the competition or a representative acting on behalf of WorldSkills UK.
Placings	are allocated to those who have achieved first, second or third in a competition heat.
Representative	is either an individual or organisation representing the competitor and/or team.
WorldSkills International	is an international not-for-profit membership organisation comprising of 52 member countries/regions dedicated to raising the status and standards of vocational education and training worldwide.
WorldSkills Leipzig 2013	Is the next WorldSkills International competition, for which Competitors from the 2011/12 cycle may be eligible.
WorldSkills UK contact centre	is a call centre providing general information about competitions to representatives and competitors.
WorldSkills UK	is set of skills competitions managed by the National Apprenticeship Service, in partnership with organisations from industry and education.

 

 

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