Trainees take top prizes at construction skills competition

15th June 2015

Trainees from Barking & Dagenham College have scooped 4 awards at a top construction competition organised by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

The young apprentices headed to Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College on Tuesday 9 June 2015 to take part in the first round of CITB’s prestigious SkillBuild competition.

Over 60 young construction trainees battled it out in their chosen trade, with skills such as bricklaying, carpentry, and painting and decorating all being put to the test.

Barking & Dagenham College trainees were a big success, winning three 1st place awards and one 2nd place award:

Above: Jack Dickson, 20, from Canning Town - 1st place, new entrant bricklaying

Above: Rhys Craddock 23, from Upminster – 1st place, new entrant plastering

Above: Reece Killington 21, from Romford – 1st place, senior plastering

Tyler Peachey 17, from Dagenham – 2nd place, senior painting and decorating

Lewis Smith, 18, from Romford secured a very creditable 4th place in the senior plastering competition having entered a year ahead of schedule.

The Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College heat is one of 13 taking place across the UK, with the top 10 competitors from across the country going through to the national final at The Skills Show at Birmingham’s NEC in November.

SkillBuild is the longest running and largest construction skills contest in the country, having taken place for over 40 years.

Paul Newitt, CITB’s Area Delivery Manager for London said:

“SkillBuild is a chance for talented young people in London to develop new skills to help them succeed in the construction industry. With the skills they develop, these apprentices can look forward to successful, rewarding careers in construction.

“The industry is growing, with jobs being created across the region, and the young people participating in SkillBuild will be at the front of the queue for the best jobs.”