Yuliia and Evan celebrate EuroSkills success at Houses of Parliament
The Grŵp Llandrillo Menai students were invited to Westminster after competing for Team UK in Europe’s most prestigious skills competition in Denmark recently
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai students Yuliia Batrak and Evan Klimaszewski attended the Houses of Parliament for a celebration of the UK’s EuroSkills 2025 team.
Yuliia and Evan were both selected by WorldSkills UK to take part in EuroSkills - Europe’s most prestigious skills competition - in Herning, Denmark in September.
Coleg Llandrillo learner Yuliia achieved a Medallion for Excellence in the Restaurant Service competition - awarded for outstanding performances above the international benchmark.
Yuliia with MP Gill German
The 19-year-old from Colwyn Bay, who moved with her family from Kyiv following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, studies Level 3 Food and Beverage Service Supervision at the Rhos-on-Sea campus.
Evan, who is studying for a Higher National Certificate in General Engineering at Coleg Menai in Llangefni, competed in Electronics Prototyping in Herning, attaining a higher score than he had in any previous competition or training task.
Along with the rest of the UK’s EuroSkills team, Evan and Yuliia were invited to a celebration of their achievements at the Houses of Parliament in London.
Also attending were Geraint Rowlands, engineering lecturer at Coleg Menai and electronics training manager for WorldSkills UK, as well as Mike Garner, hospitality lecturer at Coleg Llandrillo who has coached Yuliia to success in numerous skills competitions.
The event was sponsored by Helen Hayes MP, and hosted by Shane Chowen, editor of FE Week. It brought together competitors, training managers, parents, supporters, MPs and special guests to recognise the skill, dedication and determination of the UK team.
It was Yuliia’s second visit to the Houses of Parliament, after she attended a similar reception following her gold medal win in the 2023 WorldSkills UK national finals.
She said: “The event this week was so much bigger, because it was the whole of Team UK who went to EuroSkills, with all the teachers, parents and employers. It was such a privilege to be there.”
Accompanying Yuliia at the Westminster event was her mum Liudmyla, who was referenced in one of the speeches after Government officials remembered her unwavering support for her daughter in Herning.
Yuliia said: “My mum was watching from the beginning of the competition in Herning to the last second, and never went anywhere from the stand where I was competing. Some of the officials speaking at the event recognised my Mum from that, and they made an example of her in their speeches when they were talking about the support of the parents and the teachers, which was a nice moment.”
At the event, Skills Minister Jacqui Smith congratulated the competitors on their outstanding performances, saying: “Well done to all the UK competitors in EuroSkills. Every single one of you has made our country proud, showcasing the best of British skills across a range of trades and professions.”
Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive of WorldSkills UK, praised the team for their commitment and resilience, saying: “It is fantastic to celebrate the achievements of Team UK today. We are incredibly proud of the whole team who showed commitment, determination and resilience over three days of intense competition at EuroSkills Herning.”
Both Yuliia and Evan are in the UK training squad vying for places in WorldSkills 2026, a global ‘Skills Olympics’. WorldSkills 2026 takes place in Shanghai, China from September 22 to 27 next year.