Jonathan Gill and Matthew Beesley will be bringing home Silver medals in Landscape Gardening from the WorldSkills International competition, held over the weekend in Sao Paulo. Both competed in 2012 in the WorldSkills UK competition, and have built on their experience since to bring to Sao Paulo this year.
Matthew who now employs his dad part-time “in the backroom” of his Beesley’s Landscapes business, said his parents are the ones who helped allow Matthew to remain a success both in business and in competition.
“My mum and dad don’t half dig out for me,” said Matthew, “They work so hard behind the scenes. They don’t really get recognised for what they do.”
“I tend to get all the limelight, but behind the scenes they are working so hard to keep the business running while I’m off here, there and everywhere trying to compete for this competition, so credit where it’s due — to them.”
WorldSkills competitions provide strong training and development for competitors, and the opportunity for international experiences.
This years’ finalists for the APL WorldSkills competition, progressing to the NEC for the national final, are:
- Will Burberry, Gardenscapes
- Mark Chapelhow, Wildroof Landscapes
- Anthony Doran, The Landscape Co.
- Christopher Shore, Reaseheath College
- Noel Taggart Greenmount Campus, CAFRE
- Aaron Quin, Greenmount Campus, CAFRE
Jonathan and Will popped by during the semi-finals at RHS Tatton Flower Show to support the competitors. The final of the WorldSkills UK Landscape Gardening competition will once again take place at the Birmingham NEC on 19 – 21 November.
