Ben Blackledge re-elected for second term as WorldSkills Europe Chair of the Board

WorldSkills Europe is delighted to announce that Ben Blackledge, CEO of WorldSkills UK, has been re-elected as WorldSkills Europe Chair of the Board.

Ben Blackledge was re-elected following a vote by WorldSkills Europe Members at the General Assembly 2026, which took place in Helsinki, Finland on 11 June.

Ben has worked at WorldSkills UK for 12 years, serving as CEO since 2023, where he champions skills excellence and helps to create world-class opportunities for young people across the UK. He previously served as the UK’s Technical Delegate for WorldSkills Europe and WorldSkills International and is responsible for driving the WorldSkills UK programme of work both nationally and internationally.

In partnership with representatives from governments, industry, and education, Ben leads the UK-wide initiative to use international benchmarking and competition-based training programmes to help deliver quality improvement across skills systems in the UK.

Commenting on his re-election, Ben Blackledge said: “I look forward to continuing in my role as Chair of the Board of WorldSkills Europe to support the ongoing work of our Members, which empowers young people to thrive in both work and life, and ultimately strengthens Europe’s competitiveness.”

Laurence Gates, CEO of WorldSkills Europe, said: “Ben’s extensive experience and passion for promoting excellence in skills make him a key Board Member and figurehead for WorldSkills Europe. We are delighted to continue working with Ben to further develop the WorldSkills movement and deliver competitions which provide life-changing opportunities for young people across Europe.”

Ben Blackledge will take up the position of Chief Executive, City & Guilds Foundation in October 2026. Ben’s departure from WorldSkills UK does not affect his position as Chair of the Board of WorldSkills Europe.