Young Talent Shines At ‘UK’s Construction Olympics’

The winners of SkillBuild ’21, the annual contest managed by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), and dubbed the ‘UK’s construction Olympics, have been announced.

Scaffmag reports that 53 trainees and apprentices participated in the competition, which was held this year at the National Construction College in Bircham Newton, where they were tested against the clock in their chosen trade over three days.

The medalists were announced during an online event from TV presenter Steph McGovern, live from her Live Lunch studio, where she said that the winners had ‘the skills that everyone is crying out for’.

The gold medal in plastering was won by 19-year-old Sam Dean from Ashton-in-Makerfield, who has recently completed his apprenticeship and has been working for a plastering firm in Chorley in Lancashire for two years.

“SkillBuild was a good experience. I was nervous going into the competition, but the judges were helpful,” he said.

“SkillBuild taught me not to panic, rush or concentrate on what others are doing, but to go at my own speed and get the job right.” 

Chief executive of the CITB, Tim Balcon said that SkillBuild brings the best out of competitors, all promising construction trainees and apprentices, teaching them how to work under pressure, to deadlines, and to produce high-quality work, adding that this year’s talent ‘augers well for the industry’.

He said that there are ‘great opportunities’ for skilled construction workers in the UK, with high demand for labour, and estimates from the CITB of over 40,000 new construction jobs to be created by 2025.

“It’s important that we increase the number of people in construction, the example of SkillBuild competitors will help do that. I wish all the competitors the very best in their careers,” Balcon concluded.
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