Crawley apprentice to compete at UK’s largest construction competition

A joinery apprentice from Crawley College has successfully secured his place at the National Final of the UK’s longest running construction skills competition.

Organised by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), SkillBuild has been showcasing the talent of construction trainees from across the UK for several decades. The competition involves a variety of challenges in a number of skills, including plastering, stonemasonry, painting and decorating and bricklaying.

After successfully competing in SkillBuild RegionalQualifiers, Kieran Barnes from Crawley College will progress to the UK final held at the Birmingham NEC from November 15 – 17.

The apprentice will take on fellow finalists from across the UK. The overall goal is to win SkillBuild 2018 and to potentially secure a place in Team UK for the international competition WorldSkills Kazan 2019.

Andy Barron, CITB Partnerships Manager for the East and South East of England, said: “It is fantastic to see a talented apprentice from the South East of England making it to the final of SkillBuild 2018. This competition will give him the opportunity to showcase his skills and expertise on a national stage.

“SkillBuild is one of the many ways we can demonstrate the immense talent coming into the construction industry and attract more young people from the region into a rewarding career in our sector.

“I’m sure Kieran has a bright future ahead of him in construction. I hope what he has achieved with being shortlisted inspires more young people in the East of England to consider construction as their future career”