On Wednesday (26 April) the college hosted the East Midlands regional heats of SkillBuild 2016 and certificates of achievement were handed out by the college’s deputy principal for teaching and learning Chris Thomas.
Aimed at finding Britain’s best trainee tradesperson it saw 79 students from 17 colleges compete in a wide range of craft-based challenges including bricklaying, carpentry, joinery, plastering, painting and decorating, cabinet making and floor and wall tiling.
Nine students entered by the college achieved top three positions in their respective categories with three of them earning the top spot.
- Lauren Wells, new entrant in painting and decorating – first place
- Stefan Hubble, senior in painting and decorating – first place
- Adam Parr, senior in carpentry – first place
- Tyler Monk, new entrant in carpentry – second place
- Stanley Smith, senior in painting and decorating – second place
- Niall Garrity, new entrant in plastering – third place
- Jordan Dallison, new entrant in joinery – third place
- Joshua Tideswell, new entrant in bricklaying – third place
- Holly Seals, new entrant in painting and decorating – third place
Stefan Hubble, 26, from Edwinstowe, won first place in the senior painting and decorating competition. He works for Edwinstowe-based Sharpline Decorators Limited and said: “This is the third year on the trot I’ve won at regional SkillBuild so I’m quite proud.
“Throughout the competition I felt quietly confident. I guess I’m not as nervous as I used to be in competitions.”
Meanwhile, sixteen-year-old trainee painter and decorator Lauren Wells, from Mansfield, said: “I’m shaking with nerves! The challenge was quite a complex one which you had to really concentrate on. I didn’t think I’d come first but I’m so happy I did.”
The regional heats involve students working on test plans which around six hours to complete, with the highest scorers from the senior categories put forward to compete in the national final.
Head of construction and building services Julian Walden said: “I say it every year, but yet again I was incredibly impressed by the level of skills that all students showed. Their attention to detail, the way they challenged their own skill levels and paced themselves throughout the competition was inspiring.
“Well done to everyone and a huge congratulations to those who won awards and the very best of luck to the competitors who will be advancing to the UK finals in November.”
Organised by the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board), SkillBuild has been running for more than 20 years as a way of recognising the importance of trainees and their skills.
Success at the SkillBuild regional heats will give entrants the opportunity to challenge for a place on the WorldSkills UK team and progress to compete at the 2017 WorldSkills competition in Dubai.
Caption: Back row (l-r) Adam Parr, Niall Garrity, Stanley Smith, front row (l-r) Joshua Tideswell, Stefan Hubble, Holly Seals and Lauren Wells. Tyler Monk and Jordan Dallison not pictured.