Employees from Warwick Printing, Stirland & Paterson, Hartgraph and Phase Print will all fly the flag for UK print at the show that takes at the Birmingham NEC.

Organised by WorldSkills, the 15-17 November show will promote the best in vocational training.

Ashley Howland, who operates a five-colour Speedmaster SM 52 press at Hartgraph, will benefit from the experience, according to managing director Tony Brooks.

He said: "He will have to work under pressure in a different environment. We have struggled to get apprentices in the past but Ashley was introduced to us by our van driver and he’s been a great asset to the company."

Jordan Moore from Phase Print, Stirland & Paterson's Craig Clifford and Jamie Cleaver from Warwick Printing complete the line-up at The Skills Show.

"The press we will compete on is the technology I’m used to although it will be smaller.  But at the familiarisation day I have learnt new things, particularly in terms of the guillotine and conductivity," said Cleaver.

Heidelberg is supplying a Speedmaster SX 52-5 five-colour press, a Polar 78 guillotine and Saphira inks for the event. Sappi is supplying paper and X-Rite is offering its Easy Track spectrophotometers.

Competitors entering the event are expected to be able to run a five-colour offset litho printing press and guillotine and to have an understanding of consumables.

This includes mixing a special to a defined Pantone colour and to be able to measure and monitor colour.

Heidelberg UK marketing manager Mark Hogan said the national event offers an opportunity to showcase "how great our top apprentices are".

"The finalists will be put through their paces at a venue which will feature apprentices from many other fields as well. It will be a prestigious win for the companies whose apprentices reach the final," he added.