A GROUP of engineering apprentices from companies across Lancashire have taken home two gold and three silver medals from the national finals of the prestigious World Skills UK competition.

The winning group are doing their apprenticeships with Blackburn-based training provider Training 2000.

They include Fort Vale in Burnley employees Jonathan Oddy and Benn Goodwill, Ryan Knight from BCH in Whitworth, Liam Woinson from Paradigm Precision in Burnley and Ryan Worthington from Rolls-Royce in Barnoldswick.

They were competing in engineering sectors ranging from Computer Aided Design to CNC Milling.

After showcasing their skills in the regional competitions, they were shortlisted to take part in the finals which took place at the NEC in Birmingham.

Training 2000 chief executive Steve Gray, said: “We are so proud of all of our learners and their employers.

“It is a real testament to the quality of the training they receive both at Training 2000 and on the job.”

Taking part were almost 600 apprentices from across the UK, watched by 75,000 visitors over three days.

The skills on show included diverse talents such as floristry, hairdressing, welding and catering. World Skills is the world’s largest skills competition and hundreds of employers exhibit at the show each year.

Outstanding competitors from this year’s World Skills UK finals may be invited to join Squad UK for World Skills Abu Dhabi in 2017.

Alan Emerton, of Fort Vale said: “As an organisation that has a genuine passion for training and developing young people, we here at Fort Vale are extremely proud to have two of our apprentices achieve the accolade of each winning silver medals at this year’s UK Skills competitions.

“It is a real testament to the quality of training they have received at Training 2000.”