This week, the 22 young people that form Team UK take on the rest of Europe at EuroSkills 2018, Europe’s most prestigious skills competition. As the first day of competitions gets underway, we introduce the apprentices and college students representing the UK.

Beauty therapy

Holly-Mae Cotterall, from Coleford in Gloucestershire, is a 19-year-old apprentice at Reds Hair Company.

Cabinet making

Thomas Pennicott, 19, is from Chichester and is a student at his local college, Chichester College.

CNC milling

Elliott Dawson, 20, is an apprentice from Accrington in Lancashire. He is employed by Fort Vale and trains at Training 2000.

Cooking

Twenty-year-old Nicolle Finnie works for DRG Group and attends City of Glasgow College in her hometown of Glasgow.

Electrical installation

Thomas Lewis, 21, from Maesteg, Bridgend, is an apprentice with Blues Electrical. He trains at Cardiff and Vale College.

Floristry

Elizabeth Newcombe is 21 and from Dunsfold in Surrey; she works for Rhubarb and Bramley. Her training provider is Guildford College of Further and Higher Education.

Hairdressing

Reds Hair Company apprentice Gavin Jon Kyte is 19 and from Coleford in Gloucestershire.

Heavy-truck maintenance

Kieran Leyland, 21, is an apprentice from Warrington. He works for Ryder and trains at Stephenson College.

IT network administration

Cameron Barr, 20, from Worcester Park, Surrey, and Shane Carpenter, 22, an apprentice at BAE Systems from Croydon, both train at Nescot.

Joinery

Christopher Caine, 20, trains at Pembrokeshire College. He works for DH Carpentry and Joinery, and is from Kilgetty in Pembrokeshire.

Landscape gardening

Shea Mcferran, 19, and Sam Taylor, 18, are both apprentices. Shea is from Larne in County Antrim and trains at CAFRE, while Sam is from Oldham, works for Garden TLC and trains at Myerscough College.

Mechanical engineering: CAD

Ross Megahy, 21, is from Wilshaw in North Lanarkshire and is a student at New College Lanarkshire.

Mechatronics

Jack Dakin and Danny Slater are both 24 and are apprentices at Toyota Manufacturing. Both are from Derby.

Painting and decorating

Callum Bonner, 20, from Alloa in Clackmannanshire, is an apprentice for Clackmannanshire Council and trains at Forth Valley College.

Plumbing and heating

Matthew Barton, 20, is from Lancaster and is an apprentice with WE Barton. He trains at Kendal College.

Restaurant services

Collette Gorvett, 19, from Morriston, Swansea, works at the Ritz. She trains at Gower College in Swansea.

Wall and floor tiling

Mark Scott, an apprentice for McGoldrick and Sons who trains at City of Glasgow College, is from Shotts in North Lanarkshire.

Web design

Lewis Newton, 19, is from Portsmouth and trains at Highbury College, Portsmouth.

Welding

Scott Kerr, 21, is an apprentice at PFS. He is from Llanerch-y-Medd, Anglesey, and trains at Coleg Menai