The budding trainees will be put through their paces at 15 regional heats taking place across the UK between March and May. The entrants will be competing in their respective trade and will be marked on essential skills such as following detailed instructions, producing accurate work outputs, being economical with materials and working to strict timescales.
The highest scoring students will then win a place at the UK final in September, which will take place at Leeds College of Building – where they will be in with a chance of winning the coveted title of Britain’s most talented construction trainee.
The competition, which is managed by CITB-ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board for the construction industry, with endorsement from UK Skills, is better than ever before, and is a great opportunity for trainees to prove they are best in their trade helping to boost their career.
For employers the competition offers the opportunity to showcase their most talented trainees, as well as highlighting their commitment to training and excellence helping to provide a competitive edge in the current climate. For colleges it can enhance their reputation by demonstrating that their construction training is top quality.
As the largest multi-trade competition in the UK, SkillBuild covers a wide range of crafts including Bricklaying, Cabinet Making, Carpentry, Dry Walling Systems, Joinery, Painting and Decorating, Plastering, Roofing, Stonemasonry and Wall and Floor tiling.
Luke Welstead, a trainee from Loughborough, proved he was best in his field by taking home a Gold medal, in the Bricklaying category at the national final of SkillBuild 2010.
Luke who attended Stephenson College and works as an apprentice for William Davis Ltd, said: “It felt fantastic to win a medal at the UK final of SkillBuild and to be named as one of the best construction trainees in the country. The competition at this level is so fierce, so to come out on top and demonstrate the expert skill and experience I have attained is amazing.
“Winning a competition like SkillBuild really helps to boost your confidence and I know I’ve made all of those who supported me, including my employer, very proud. It is great to have this under my belt and hopefully it is the first step to a very promising career in the industry.
“SkillBuild has been a really valuable experience for me in terms of testing and showcasing my own skills, as well as learning new things about my trade and the industry. It’s been hard work but it is so worthwhile; I would definitely recommend taking part.”
Competitions manager for SkillBuild, James Duffell, said: “SkillBuild provides the perfect platform to demonstrate the enormous talent we have in the industry, helping to showcase the professionalism of our brightest recruits and industry as a whole. Trainees such as Luke along with all the other competitors at this year’s regional heats are excellent examples of the benefits a talented trainee can bring to a business. Not only do they provide businesses with a competitive edge in the current climate, they also help ensure that the industry has the right skills in place for the upturn and beyond.”
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 Construction and the Built Environment to Cultural and Creative Arts. Outstanding competitors from this year’s competition could be selected to represent the UK at the next WorldSkills competition, which is due to take place in Leipzig, Germany in 2013.
The main sponsors for this year’s SkillBuild include Crown Paints Ltd, British Gypsum, Stabila and the National Federation of Roofing Contractors.
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