SOUTH Wales electrical engineering apprentices Alex Scott and Luke Elsmore who struck gold in the finals of the WorldSkills UK National Competitions are lapping up their success.

The two, apprentices at Newport-based controls systems firm IAC, each won gold after battling it out against some of the UK’s most talented apprentices and learners, have been rewarded with top of the range Acer lap tops.

And the pair of apprentices could now, potentially, go on to represent the UK at the WSI (WorldSkills International) 2015 finals in South America which are to be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Alex Scott, aged 20, a fourth year apprentice, from Newport and Luke Elsmore, aged 19, a third year apprentice, from Blackwood, represented IAC competing in the Industrial Control Section at The Skills Show at the NEC Birmingham in November.

The pair used Siemens PLC and Festo Products equipment to take part in the competition.

Alex, a former pupil at Lliswerry High School, and Luke, who attended Blackwood School, both also study at the University of South Wales in Newport and with Newport and District Group Training Association (NDGTA) as part of their apprenticeship training at IAC.

The two were presented with the lap top computers as prizes by Tony Battison, of Siemens Industry Automation & Drive Technologies, who is also Industrial Controls expert at WorldskillsUK.

Mr Battison said: “The two IAC apprentices Alex and Luke, did exceptionally well in the recent Worldskills UK finals at the NEC in Birmingham. The work that they produced over the three days was quite exemplary and of a very high standard scoring 190 out of a possible 200.”

Kath Lewis, of Queensway Meadows, Newport, based IAC Ltd. said: “Alex and Luke did extremely well at the UK finals and we’re thrilled that our partner Siemens has recognised their achievements in that way with giving them each a lap top computer. It’s now very much fingers crossed that one of them wins through to represent the UK in Brazil at Worldskills International in 2015.”

Ms Lewis said IAC, a multi award winning global controls Systems Company, is committed to supporting apprenticeships. The established Newport firm currently has eight apprentices in its workforce and take on two a year.

Alex and Luke competed over three days at The Skills Show in November against aspiring industrial control apprentice engineers from all over the UK in the competition which showcased skills from a huge range of sectors across the UK. During the competition the pair of Gwent apprentices had to complete a number of specific and intricate tasks.

For more information and results visit www.theskillsshow.com