INDUSTRIAL Automation and Control Ltd apprentices Luke Elsmore and Alex Scott go head-to-head next week in a bid to secure a trip to South America.

The two, who both work at Newport’s IAC Ltd, are vying to be chosen to be part of the UK Worldskills team at the finals in Sao Paulo Brazil later this year.

Luke, aged 20, from Blackwood, a fourth-year apprentice and recently qualified apprentice Alex, aged 22, from Lliswerry, Newport, are competing against each other to be selected to travel to Brazil in August to compete in the industrial controls section of the global competition.

The pair have been getting expert tuition over recent months to hone the skills they need for the final competition and also in Brazil.

Mark Maginty, Worldskills trainer manager/expert, said: “They are both capable of securing a place as part of the UK Worldskills team. Now it’s all down to how they do in the final competition. They are both high quality candidates and each has their individual strengths. It is somewhat unusual to have the final two apprentices competing for a single place who are both from the some firm.”

Luke said: “It’s been hard juggling work, study and the extra training for the competition but it is very exciting, I have enjoyed every minute and I’ve learned a great deal. It would be brilliant to top it all off with a trip to Brazil as part of the UK Worldskills team.”

Alex said: “I’m excited and also a little nervous about the prospect of representing the UK in Brazil. It has been a struggle doing all my work, university study and the extra training but it’ll be well worth it if I secure a place in Brazil. To be honest I don’t mind if it is me or Luke who gets the place as long as it is one of us from IAC that’s going to South America as part of the UK team.”

The UK Worldskills team will represent a maximum of 37 skills with a team of 41 whittled down from a squad of 88 making the trip.

Kath Lewis, of IAC Ltd, said: “We are thrilled that either Luke or Alex will have the chance to represent the UK at Worldskills. It’s a great testament to the quality of both of our apprentices and also an immense accolade for IAC ltd. and the apprentices that we produce here in Newport.”

Luke, a former pupil at Blackwood Comprehensive School, was named Quality Skills Alliance Wales apprentice of the year and a similar recognition from ESTnet earlier this year. Alex is a former pupil at Lliswerry High School.

The pair attend the University of South Wales in Newport and also Newport and District Gwent Training (NDGTA) as part of their training with IAC Ltd.

Luke and Alex will go head to head in Nottingham on May 20, 21 & 22, to determine who secures the single place in the UK team at the Sao Paulo, Brazil Worldskills final in August.

• Would you like to follow in Luke and Alex’s apprenticeship footsteps? IAC Ltd has opened its recruitment for 2015 apprentices. Applications close on Friday, June 19. For more details and how to apply visit www.careerswales.com.