Construction trainees shine at the 2019 SkillBuild final

Nearly 80 construction trainees were in the spotlight last week for the Construction Industry Training Board’s 2019 SkillBuild final, held at the NEC in Birmingham.

SkillBuild, the largest multi-trade competition in the UK, showcases the talent of construction trainees and forms a part of WorldSkills UK LIVE. This year’s three-day event attracted roughly 70,000 people from families, educational institutes and employers, exhibiting the variety of skills and career opportunities available.

The UK National Finals took place across four industry areas; Construction & Infrastructure, Health Hospitality & Lifestyle, Digital, Business & Creative and Engineering & Technology. The top scoring age eligible competitors have the chance to progress onto EuroSkills in Graz, Austria, 2020 and, if successful, will be invited to compete at an international level.

The medal winners from SkillBuild are:

Bricklaying

Gold - Adam Batty, Barnsley College

Silver - Nathan Jamieson, York College

Bronze - Lee Woodward, Stafford College

Carpentry 

Gold - Cai Henshaw, Grwp Llandrillo Menai

Silver - Jason Wong, Nottingham College

Bronze - Andy Thomson, South Devon College

Furniture and Cabinet Making

Gold - Jack Eggleston, Cornwall College

Silver - Finlay Champion, Chichester College Group

Bronze - Charlie Teager-Neale, Colchester Institute

Joinery

Gold - Alex Howe, West Suffolk College

Silver - Ross Fiori, NCG Carlisle College

Bronze - Harry Colgrave, Exeter College

Painting and Decorating

Gold - Gatis Celmins, Inverness College UHI

Silver - Lewis Boyle, Leeds College of Building

Bronze - Abigayle Johnson, Leeds College of Building

Plastering

Gold - Raymond Stirling, City of Glasgow College

Silver - Tom Joy, College of North West London

Bronze - Thomas Burrow, Preston College

Plastering and Drywall Systems

Gold - Brendan Duddy, North West Regional College

Silver - Kalem Kerrigan, Errigal Contracts

Bronze - Alfie Howe, College of North West London

Roof Slating and Tiling

Gold - Jordan Condren, Newcastle College and Philip Houghton, Eastern Region Training Group

Silver - Joseph Osborne, Leeds College of Building

Bronze - David Crank, Newcastle College

Stonemasonry

Gold - James Digger, York College

Silver - Josh Harvey, Weymouth College

Bronze - Jake Watson, Inverness College UHI

Wall and Floor Tiling

Gold - Dylan Calvert, Southern Regional College

Silver - Dylan Gillanders, Southern Regional College

Bronze - Aaron Gillespie, Southern Regional College

The Inclusive Skills category took place on the final day of the competition. It offers the opportunity for learners with special educational needs to showcase their skills.

Inclusive Skills: Woodworking

Gold - Lewis Hall, Coleg Sir Gar

Silver - Joshua Bradbury, Coleg y Cymoedd

Bronze - Nicholas Price, Pembrokeshire College

Top of the bill, giving a Spotlight Speech at the event, was ‘DIY SOS’ chippy and former apprentice, Mark Millar. After visiting the construction area, Mark said: “Events like this open people’s eyes and give them a glimpse into a career in construction. We put roofs over people’s heads and can be proud of what we do. The world is your oyster if you qualify with an apprenticeship.”

Sarah Beale, CITB chief executive, said: “It’s fantastic to see a group of talented people from across the nations come together for the National Final. SkillBuild is one of the many ways we can demonstrate the level of expertise within the industry, and attract more young people into a rewarding career in construction”.

Global workwear brand Dickies sponsored the UK National Final of SkillBuild, providing clothing and safety footwear for all staff and contestants, as part of its efforts to support the next generation of tradespeople.