Several apprentices have been presented with awards at this year's Building Services Engineering Industry Training Awards, which took place in the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff on 3 February.

The awards and their winners were as follows:

Building & Engineering Services’ past president Sue Sharp acknowledged that the building engineering services sector seems to be emerging from "the longest and deepest recession many of us have known".

She continued: "And it does seem that, in the not-too-distant future, we shall find ourselves complaining once again of skills shortages, and of a lack of competent individuals – at every level of the workforce – able to allow us to capitalise fully on the improving commercial environment.”

Mrs Sharp went on: "I have heard it said – even by people who ought to know better – that the concept of an 'apprenticeship' holds little appeal for many of today's young people; that they view it as something old-fashioned and out of tune with the way careers are fashioned in the contemporary world of work.

"All I can say to that is that the commitment, dedication and single-mindedness displayed by our award-winners not only gives the lie to such theories, but will also stand them in excellent stead throughout their working lives."

Image caption: The winning line-up at the Millennium Centre comprised: (back row, left to right) Rhys Evans, James Pearson, Keiran Swift and Dave Thomas; (front row, left to right) Rhys Yates, Victoria Hackett, Kyle Engstrom, Eleanor Davies and Chris Carmody.