Four candidates who have helped revamp a play area at a Carmarthen hospital children’s ward will find out this week if they have won an apprenticeship.

Connor Evans, 16, from Ammanford; Jordan Rowlands, 17, from Brynaman; Kyle Barratt, aged 16, from Llanelli and Jordan Williams, 16, from Trimsaran have been battling it out over the last five weeks to secure a place in construction under the Next Steps scheme.

The winner will be announced in a ceremony held at Ffwrnes on Friday.

Over the last few weeks, the group have been erecting fencing, building a gazebo, painting and undertaking ground works in Cilgerran Ward’s outdoor play area, Lle Hapus, in an initiative between Lloyd & Gravell and TRJ Ltd building firms alongside Constructing Carmarthenshire Together - a partnership between Carmarthenshire County Council’s Property division, Carmarthenshire Construction Training Association Ltd. (CCTAL), Coleg Sir Gâr and CWIC.

A similar scheme was undertaken last year at Llys y Bryn Nursing home in Llanelli and Cwmamman paddling pool.

Since 2010, over 60 candidates have taken part on the Next Steps Scheme.

17 candidates have won traditional apprenticeships with Lloyd and Gravell Ltd and TRJ Ltd, 15 have secured apprenticeships on the Shared Apprenticeship Scheme with CCTAL/Cyfle Building Skills and 25 have enrolled on full time education at Coleg Sir Gâr.

One winner who completed his apprenticeship with Lloyd and Gravell has since started his own business taking on apprentices also.