STUDENT Alexander Bellini played a pivotal role as the UK stormed to 11th place at the 2005 world skills competition in Helsinki.
The BCUC undergraduate, from High Wycombe, triumphed in the cabinet-making category and scooped a medallion of excellence for his efforts.
Mr Bellini was part of an 18-strong UK team, aged between 18 and 22, which returned from the competition with its highest ever points score.
Chris Humphries, director-general of City & Guilds and chairman of UK Skills which managed the team, said: "Our young people were excellent ambassadors for their country.
"Their outstanding achievements demonstrate the UK's ability to achieve world class standards in vocational skills. The UK team has worked extremely hard to get to, and take part in, the competition and standards in all competitions were higher than before."
Representatives battled it out in more than 40 different skill categories, including beauty therapy, cookery, landscape gardening and, in Mr Bellini's case, cabinet making.
Dr Graeme Hall, chief executive of UK Skills, added: "The standards set at these events provide a benchmark against which industry can measure and compare its performance."
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