His day job involves fitting boilers around Caerphilly County. Because of his moustache, customers jokingly refer to him as Super Mario.

He now wants to inspire others to take up a trade after returning from the WorldSkills competition, external - known as "the skills Olympics" to many taking part - with a silver medal.

Ruben, 22, joined 1,500 other competitors from 69 nations in Lyon, France, and is the only Welsh competitor to return with a medal.

The competition is for apprentices and students with vocational qualifications. In addition to plumbing and heating, participants display their talents in trades as diverse as carpentry, hairdressing, and web design.

Ruben had always wanted to follow in his father's footsteps, adding: “I’ve always wanted to be a plumber since helping carry my dad’s toolbox when I was six.

"I was shaking when they called my name. It still hasn’t sunk in that I'm the second-best plumber in the world.”

Ruben completed his apprenticeship at the family plumbing company, Powerserv Limited, in Blackwood, Caerphilly County, and trained at Coleg y Cymoedd in nearby Ystrad Mynach.

"I’m passionate about apprenticeships. It’s the best way to learn a trade, and businesses need to see the rewards of training apprentices.”

He missed out on gold in China, and he jokes that he is holding off putting his prices up until he checks with his dad and wants to focus on being the best.