An East Kilbride-based college hosted the Lanarkshire SkillBuild Regional Qualifying Heat this month.
The event at South Lanarkshire College showcased some of the area's highly-skilled learners and apprentices who were competing within a variety of construction trades.
The largest and longest-running construction skills competition in the UK is delivered by industry training board CITB and forms a part of WorldSkills UK, often dubbed the ‘skills Olympics.’
There are 16 heats at various colleges across the UK, covering several different trades including, bricklaying, carpentry, and joinery.
Top scoring competitors on the day moved onto the second stage in the competition, qualifying for the National Final later this year.
The competition takes place at a time when there is a skills shortage and demand for more workers in the construction industry is high.
Trade body CITB’s recent Rethinking Recruitment report highlights the need to attract more individuals into construction, and encompassing a variety of trades, SkillBuild presents a fantastic opportunity to alter perceptions and promote the diverse range of roles available.
South Lanarkshire College, construction associate principal, David Innes, said: We were delighted to host the Skillbuild Regional Qualifying Heat here at South Lanarkshire College.
“It was a really exciting day, the competition included a range of crafts including bricklaying, carpentry, joinery, painting and decorating, plastering and roofing.
"South Lanarkshire College and students from across the region competed on campus, in the hope of winning a place at the National SkillBuild Final.
"At the end of the day students completed projects were presented and judged followed by an awards ceremony where the winners were announced."
WorldSkills UK Deputy CEO Ben Blackledge said: "Taking part in a WorldSkills UK competition can be a life-changing experience.
"Competition-based development programmes offer students and apprentices the chance to pit their skills against the best of the best in the UK and potentially on the international stage at Lyon in the 2024 WorldSkills global competition."
Jackie Ducker, CITB executive director, added: “The regional qualifiers are a very exciting time for those working behind the scenes.
"They provide a platform for the best of the best in construction technical education, which is an extremely beneficial experience, helping these young people to grow both personally and professionally.
“We feel it’s hugely important that we nurture the talent coming through the heats to ensure that regardless of their placing, they come away feeling confident and inspired to continue a career in construction.”
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