GARETH Fairie has proved that there is life after school for those who have not been model students.

The 22-year-old from Castleton, who works for High Cross Electrical, in Newport, is celebrating winning the title of Top Electrical Apprentice in South Wales.

At a glittering House of Lords ceremony hosted by Lord Randall of St Budeaux, he received his prize - £750 plus a certificate of achievement and a plaque - from Sir Ken Jackson, general secretary of the Amicus-AEEU union.

The ceremony was organised by JTL, the principal traning provider for the electro-technical industry.

Gareth works with around 35 others at High Cross on big contracts for industry and the public sector.

"I started out doing A-levels at Bassaleg Comprehensive School, including sociology and PE," he said. "But I didn't get on with that so took seven months out of school. I worked part-time at Halfords and in July 1997 started on the apprenticeship.

"I'd done electronics at GCSE. I wasn't exactly the model student but I was keen to impress people and make a good show of myself."

Over 2,000 apprentices qualified for the awards in the UK, and several hundred in South Wales. Five had come through from Gareth's company.

Girlfriend Sophie, from Llantrisant, went along with him to the ceremony. "It was amazing, something I'll never forget," he said. "No expense was spared. Lord Randall, himself a former electrical apprentice, was keen to make us understand that we could go on from there and said he wouldn't be surprised if we weren't all driving around in Mercedes cars in five years' time."

Gareth said he was happy with his present employer and would be helping other apprentices come through, but looking to the future and possibly starting his own business simply for financial reasons.

"We pride ourselves on the quality of the work," he said. "It's a very strict trade because of the possible danger involved, and new regulations are coming in all the time.

"But you cannot go wrong. I like to think we are classed as people who are indispensable. You will never be in a situation where you do not need an electrician."

Award-winners were chosen on the basis of their results in the industry's Achievement Measurement Two (AM2) test taken in 2001, the final practical examination before becoming fully qualified.

* Pictured: Gareth Fairie recives his award from Sir Ken Jackson, of the Amicus-AEEU union