Glasgow apprentice reaches semi-finals in national Screwfix contest

Rhys Mitchell, 21, from Glasgow, is in the running for the Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2026 title, beating more than 3000 applicants across the UK and Ireland.

A carpentry and joinery student at Glasgow Clyde College, Rhys is now one step closer to winning a £10,000 trade bundle and the chance to represent Glasgow on a national stage.

Rhys said: "I am delighted to have made it through to the semi-finals of Screwfix Trade Apprentice.

"To have been selected from a record number of applications is a huge achievement for me.

"I’m excited about the prospect of representing Glasgow on a national stage."

Rhys regularly takes on work outside of his studies to apply what he learns and hopes to one day start his own business and mentor future apprentices.

He said: "I hope that my commitment to the trade will be recognised by the judges and I will do everything I can to try and make it to the final."

A total of 37 apprentices will compete in the semi-finals, which will see them face an interview to potentially secure a place in the final. 

Finalists will then advance to the last stage of the competition, held at Google HQ in April.

Jack Wallace, marketing director at Screwfix, said: "As a retailer to the trade, we are committed to championing tradespeople across the UK and Ireland.

"The 12th annual Screwfix Trade Apprentice competition is a national platform which recognises and celebrates apprentices, whilst also highlighting the crucial contribution they make to the industry.

“With apprentices so important to the future success of the industry, it is great to see that we have received a record number of entries this year.

"To make it through to the highly contested semi-final stage is a fantastic achievement, and I wish this year’s semi-finalists the very best of luck in making it to the final.”