Construction trainees across the UK prepare for Britain's biggest skills competition
Published: 19 February 2010
The UK's most talented construction trainees will soon be representing their region in Britain's biggest construction skills competition – SkillBuild 2010 – to prove they are the best in Britain.
SkillBuild 2010, run by ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry, will see the UK's most promising trainee tradespeople battle it out in 14 regional heats, culminating in a national final crowning Britain's best construction trainee.
Entry to SkillBuild 2010 is free, and open to apprentices and full-time students. The heats will take place across the UK between April and June. The top scoring competitors from across the country will then go on to compete at the national final at Coleg Menai in Anglesey, Wales, this September.
Heather Bliss, SkillBuild 2010 Competition Manager, commented:
“I would really encourage colleges and employers to back their best trainees and enter this year's SkillBuild. Last year more than 1,300 trainees took part in the competition and the level of skill demonstrated by competitors was fantastic. The construction industry continues to support the competition despite difficult times and I look forward to a bumper number of entries over the coming weeks.”
Budding trainees taking part in SkillBuild 2010 will be put through their paces in competitions for their main construction trade, with categories including bricklaying, carpentry, joinery, cabinet making, roofing, stonemasonry, plastering, tiling, and painting and decorating.
Phillip Foulkes, a student from Coleg Menai in Wales, was the overall winner of last year's SkillBuild competition (the Frank Eaton Memorial Trophy), as well as gold winner in plastering. Phillip said:
“I was very excited and surprised to have won a medal at the national final. I really enjoyed taking part in the SkillBuild competition, it was hard work but it was definitely worth it. I feel I have gained so much experience and it has really helped increase my confidence levels, as well as looking good on my CV. I would highly recommend other young trades people to look at entering this year's competition. I was absolutely delighted to not only pick up the gold medal in plastering but also to take home the Frank Eaton award.”
SkillBuild is part of the WorldSkills UK competition framework, which is a series of around 70 quality assured skills competitions which take place in a diverse range of sectors from Built Environment to Cultural and Creative Arts.
Outstanding competitors from this year's competition could potentially be selected to represent the UK at the next international WorldSkills competition when it comes to ExCeL, London, from 5–8 October 2011.
The deadline for entries is 19 March 2010.
