Two Coleg Sir Gâr students hope to shine in Brazil next year after being selected to join the UK squad for the largest international skills competition in the world.

Betws youngster Nathan Roblin, 21, who has just finished studying plastering and dry wall systems, and Simon McCall of Capel Dewi, 20, who is studying carpentry, will now compete for a place in the team which will be representing the UK at WorldSkills São Paulo 2015.

Held every two years, the WorldSkills competition brings together around 1000 young people to compete in various skills including Welding, Cooking and Bricklaying.

Nathan and Simon are among 10 Welsh individuals, aged between 19 and 21, who have been named among 98 members of Squad UK.

In October this year they will be competing at EuroSkills 2014 in Lille, France.

They will then continue their training before competing next May for a coveted place in the team that will represent the UK in Brazil next August.

“The WorldSkills competitions have gone great for me so far and to have the opportunity to possibly go on and compete at WorldSkills São Paulo 2015 is awesome,” said Nathan.

“The additional training that I have had for the competitions has helped me a lot in my job as a plasterer.”

Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology Ken Skates said: "I'm really pleased to see so many high quality Welsh apprentices represented at the WorldSkills competition. Wales can boast a wealth of exceptionally talented apprentices who have highly developed skills in a wide range of vocational areas.”

Ross Maloney, Chief Executive, Find a Future, which manages the WorldSkills UK Skills Competitions and the UK’s entry into the WorldSkills Competition, said: “Through skills competitions and the wider work of Find a Future we want to provide every young person with the chance to unlock their potential and get excited about the world of work.”