An 18-year-old from Painscastle has won gold in the carpentry final of a national skills competition.

Skills Competition Wales is a Welsh Government-backed series of events designed to celebrate vocational skills and create a highly skilled Welsh workforce for the future.

With Olympic athletes training hard for the imminent games in Rio, Joshua Nicholls is just one of 78 Welsh youngsters who have been perfecting their skills in a bid to win a medal. Across a range of vocations from graphic design to patisserie, these budding skilled champions, like Olympians, may go on to challenge competitors from other nations.

Joshua, from NPTC College Brecon, competed against 14 other students from across Wales. Finalists completed a series of carpentry challenges within a six hour time period, including building a small wooden pitched roof with a stand.

Joshua, who is studying a level 2 NVQ diploma in carpentry and is working as an on-site apprentice at Jenkinson Builders, said he is thrilled to have won.

“I’m so pleased to have won and really excited to have the chance to be involved in a national competition. I’ve always been interested in carpentry and making things, and initially wanted to become an artist. Training to be a professional carpenter has opened doors for me, and I’ll always have that opportunity to be creative with my skills.

“I’m lucky because my uncle, who works for a builder’s merchant company, helped me source my apprenticeship. I’m being coached by a supervisor at work, Dai Pryce, who encouraged me to enter the competition and improve my techniques for it.”

Skills Competition Wales forms part of the Welsh Government’s Growth and Sustainable Jobs Programme, designed to promote the importance of vocational skills with the aim of boosting the overall skill capabilities and prosperity of Wales.

Joshua may go forward to represent NPTC in the carpentry Worldskills UK heat, with the aim of potentially representing Team Wales at this year’s Skills Show in Birmingham in November. He may then be eligible to compete for a place in the squad which will represent the UK at WorldSkills in Kazan, Russia in 2019.

Minister for Skills and Science, Julie James AM said: “Year on year the level of talent at Skills Competition Wales keeps on improving. These events encourage healthy competition and are a great way of recognising the fantastic talent that we have in our country.

“The colleges and work-based learning providers across Wales are already involved in the Skills Competition Wales initiative and have played a huge part in organising the heats and finals, but we’re keen to see more Welsh businesses support their talented young employees and encourage them to enter.”

The minister added: “It takes a lot of hard work to get to the final round but to win gold is a fantastic achievement. It is clear that all the competitors are extremely passionate and determined to be named the best in Wales.

“We wish Joshua and all the other finalists and winners the very best of luck, not only in the next round of the competitions, but also in their future careers.”