From 11 to 16 August, 41 of the UK's most talented apprentices, students and employees will go head to head with 1000 individuals from across the globe to be named the best in the world at their chosen skill.
Gill (20) and Beesley (21) both run their own landscaping businesses and were selected in June to represent the UK in Sao Paulo. They will run through practical tests in hard and soft landscaping, as well as plumbing, electical, drainage and irrigation, in their quest to be crowned best in the world. You can follow their exploits through the #GoWSTeamUK hashtag on Twitter.
To coincide with Team UK's touch down in Brazil, Find a Future, the organisation that manages the UK's entry into the international WorldSkills competition, has revealed new research into how much the public spends annually on skilled professionals such as florists, plumbers, beauticians and gardeners.
The first Skills Spending Index found people spend an average of £47.50 on a gardener per year, compared to £213 on having cars fixed or services and £99 on having building work done.
The Skills Spending Index also explores the skilled professionals the nation is most reliant on – with car mechanic taking the top spot. Two in five adults say they cannot live without the skills of a mechanic, while fewer than 10 per cent were reliant on a gardener.
