A TALENTED trade employee from Bristol who is studying at South Gloucestershire and Stroud college has made it to the national finals of the Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2022

Crystal Tucker, an apprentice decorator from Kingswood is competing to win a career-boosting prize package worth £10,000 as she and ten other apprentices go head to head in the national finals this month.

The aspiring decorator will be aiming to impress a panel of industry experts across a two-day virtual final on April 27 and 28.

The competition aims to shine a light on apprentices across the UK and Ireland, in search of the winning champion who receives a £10,000 package of tools, technology, and training.

Crystal, 23, thinks she could go all the way to the top spot and hopes to stand out with her customer service skills.

She said: “When I entered the competition, I really hoped I’d get to the final, but I can’t believe I have done it!

"Knowing that I am in the final and one step closer to starting my own business is mind-blowing and I am so determined to do whatever it takes to win this competition.

“I’ve been studying my painting and decorating trade for a year at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College. To get the recognition and be crowned the champion of Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2022 would be unreal on both a personal and a professional level. It would be an

The judging panel includes representatives from the Federation of Master Builders, the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting and Dan Lloyd, a previous Screwfix Top Tradesperson winner.

Jack Wallace, marketing director at Screwfix, will also be joining the panel to meet the finalists and celebrate their success. He said: “Our applicants have shown a huge level of skill, ambition, and determination to succeed no matter what life throws at them. This year we have been overwhelmed by the standard of entries across the UK and Ireland - it's clear to see that the future of the industry is in safe hands”.