GWENT’S most gifted apprentices displayed their talents at the country’s biggest skills show in Birmingham last week.

Alex Scott, 20, from Newport, and Luke Elsmore, 19, from Blackwood, won gold medals in electrical engineering at the National Exhibition Centre. They both work for electronics company IAC in Newport.

And as part of their apprenticeships, they have studied at the University of South Wales in Newport.

Mr Elsmore said: “To win and be presented with my medal in front of everyone was amazing.”

All competitors had to display their practical work in front of judges over two days.

Peter Lewis, the managing director of IAC, said: “Alex and Luke are exceptionally talented apprentices and we’re thrilled. We were certain that they would do very well and our confidence has been rewarded with them each securing gold.”

And Coleg Gwent's Nicholas Relph, 24, from Magor, finished runner-up in the advanced electrical installation competition.

He won a place at the finals at the first regional competition held at Deeside College in Connah’s Quay in February. And he battled to finish second from about 150 competitors.

He said: “I’m really proud of it. It is quite an achievement. I’m happy to make everyone proud – my friends, my family, my tutor.”

He has been an electrical apprentice Coleg Gwent’s Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone for a year and works for four days a week at OSS Electrical in Caerphilly.

Accounting students Catherine Bowe, Dorian Payne and Samuel Rawlings and engineering students Lewis Lloyd and Leon Ivin, who all study at the City of Newport campus, also took part in the UK Skills Show.

The competition lasted for three days and was attended by 800 apprentices from across the country.