A highly skilled Clitheroe professional, who is Europe's leading competitor in her field, is heading to Lyon for the WorldSkills Olympics.

Isabelle Barron, ranked as Europe’s number one in the digital construction competition, won the gold medal at last year’s European finals in Gdansk, Poland.

Split into several tasks over the four days judges will mark competitors based on speed and accuracy.

Through practicing repeatedly on the software and reaching out to mentors, training managers, past competitors or people at work she has become adept and prepared for the competition.

Isabelle said: “I am so delighted to have the chance to go to the World Finals and face the ultimate test.

“Competition has helped me immeasurably in so many ways. I tend to be quite an anxious person, but the intensity of focusing on competing, in public, and at such an elite level seems to have really helped me.

“It has allowed me to develop my personal skills as well as my confidence in myself and my ability and also to broaden my network.

“Yes, I won a gold at Euro skills in Gdansk, but now I am going to find out how good I am against the very best in the World.”

The 23-year-old gained a first-class degree in architectural technology at Sheffield Hallam University and now works for professional services consulting firm WSP, handling major business projects.

It was while she was studying that she heard about the competition through one of her lecturers who suggested she should take part.

But winning is not the main objective for Isabelle who is focused on enjoying the environment and scale of the competition while also connecting with like-minded people.

She added: “I don’t think I am prepared for the scale of the competition and what it will be like, it will just be immense.”

This year marks the 47th WorldSkills Olympics, which is a global movement bringing together young professionals from across the world through competition-based training, assessment and benchmarking.

Members of national teams test their abilities to achieve world-class standards with insights gained enabling the movement to embed world-class training standards across the UK.

Kicking off on September 10, there is expected to be 250,000 spectators with a glittering opening and closing ceremony.

It will be attended by President Macron and dozens of ministers of state and ambassadors.

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said: “I want to congratulate these talented young people who have been chosen to represent Team UK and show off the world-beating skills of our students and apprentices. 

“To represent your country is an honour and a privilege, but also a reflection of the hard work and dedication you have all shown.”

There will be around 1,500 competitors at the week-long gathering in France where competitors will compete in more than 60 disciplines including cyber security, hairdressing, joinery and robotics and will be judged by the World’s leading experts.

WorldSkills UK, a government-funded charity, in partnership with Pearson has selected, trained and prepared the team during an exhausted period of regional and national competitions.