Global Partner IAPMO supports industry excellence ahead of Shanghai

Every three years, the world’s plumbing and heating industry gathers for the World Plumbing Conference. In June 2026, the event took place in the UK at the NEC in Birmingham and this year it included something new: an invitational Skills Forum training workshop that tested Competitor skills and showcased skills excellence to the industry.

The Skills Forum was devised and hosted by WorldSkills Global Partner IAPMO, with further support from LIXIL. It was designed to give Plumbing and Heating Competitors the chance to put their training to the test as they continue preparations for Shanghai. It also offered Experts, particularly those attending their first international event, a valuable chance to see their students in action under real competition conditions, and it allowed the wider industry to learn more about training for excellence.

In total, 16 countries took part in the Skills Forum, each stepping onto this global stage for skills to sharpen their craft. Over three days, they completed a series of activities that related to the upcoming WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Plumbing and Heating skill competition. Technical tasks included joining, bending, and fixing of different piping systems and the installation of sanitary fixtures and tapware.   

At key points, activities were paused to give Experts and Competitors a chance to review and discuss the tasks together as a group, encouraging them to think about what the assessment was asking of them, and to consider what they could do differently to improve their work.

Throughout the week, participants also had a unique opportunity to see and experience new plumbing products and industry innovations, and to meet and network with their highly skilled peers from around the world who they will be competing alongside at the 48th WorldSkills Competition.  

Importantly, because the event was staged at the World Plumbing Conference 2026, the Skills Forum provided a showcase for the wider Plumbing and Heating industry to see skills excellence in action. Future employers, educators, and industry influencers were given a valuable insight into what can be achieved when you invest time and resources in skilling up the next generation.

During the week, two WorldSkills Champions brought their insights and expertise to the Skills Forum. Ruben Duggan, who won silver for the United Kingdom in Plumbing and Heating at WorldSkills Lyon 2024, served as a Workshop Manager for the event. Alongside him was Weilong Sun, who was the gold medallist at Lyon, and who travelled from China to share the benefit of his experience.

Mr Duggan said he was there to help make the Skills Forum “a smooth training event” for the participants. He reflected, “I did a similar kind of event to this in the run up to Lyon and found it a fantastic experience, to train with different materials and go up against different countries. These participants were only here for a short amount of time, so I did my best to make sure they got the most as they could out of this week.”

At the end of the Skills Forum, Mr Sun shared that he also personally learned a huge amount from the event. He said, “It was a precious and rewarding experience for me. I was exposed to professional training on high-standard equipment. I learned cutting-edge industry technologies and standardized construction procedures. It broadened my international vision and helped me optimize my professional teaching and competition guidance.”

The Skills Forum was complemented by a wider conversation about the future of skills. On the opening afternoon of World Plumbing Conference 2026, a panel discussion examined the topic of “Global Workforce Development through TVET”. Participants included Parisa Shirazi of WorldSkills UK, Csilla Szigetvári of WorldSkills Hungary, former WorldSkills Chief Expert for Plumbing and Heating Chintan Daiya, and Maria Bøhnke of Boss Ladies Europe, who together explored how Technical and Vocational Education and Training needs to evolve to keep pace with the changing labour market.

Seán Kearney of IAPMO, who helped coordinate the Skills Forum, reflects on the value of the workshop.

He said, “For our young people about to compete on the WorldSkills stage, the smallest margins can make the biggest difference to their competition outcome and overall experience. This could mean anything from the way they organize their workspace and tools, to how they handle the pressure of working in front of international judges and the public. Training workshops like this give our Competitors and Experts a good grounding for what is to come at the main event.”

He continued, “For the wider plumbing industry, IAPMO’s WorldSkills Global Partnership elevates the value of Technical and Vocational Education and Training and opens up conversations with our own partners and peers about how we can upskill the next generation of plumbers and engineers. Like so many others our industry is navigating the need for more sustainable practices, digital innovation, and equitable career development. We believe that investing in skills is the answer to many of these challenges, so initiatives like this Skills Forum give us ways to show that.”

David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International, welcomes these kinds of events saying, “Our community’s strength is in its collaboration. It is fantastic to see our Global Partners and Members working together like this to share knowledge and mobilize their industries around skills excellence. We are grateful to IAPMO and the World Plumbing Council for all the work they do inspiring new talent and elevating the level of Plumbing and Heating skills across the world.”

With the 48th WorldSkills Competition drawing closer, invitational events like the Skills Forum at World Plumbing Conference 2026 show how WorldSkills Global Partners and WorldSkills Members are coming together to prepare, mentor, and inspire the next generation of skilled professionals. Learn more about the conference and read how other Competitors are preparing for Shanghai.