What is SkillBuild?
SkillBuild is a series of competitions run by CITB and GoConstruct, where construction students, trainees, and apprentices can compete against each other to be crowned the best in their chosen trade.
As each level of competition progresses, the apprentices and trainees are tested on their technical abilities, time management, character and commitment. This helps to develop confidence, self-esteem and life skills.
The SkillBuild competitions are made up of six stages:
- Pre-competition – Skill sharpening and preparation
- Registration – Opens in March via the WorldSkills UK website.
- Regional qualifiers – From April to late June, SkillBuild Regional Qualifiers are held across the UK. The eight overall highest-achieving competitors in each skill are invited to compete at the SkillBuild UK National Final.
- UK National Final – At the WorldSkills UK Live event in November, the highest-scoring eligible competitors can progress through to Squad UK and the international level.
- EuroSkills – Squad UK members may be chosen to compete in their specialist skills, against 28 European countries, at EuroSkills.
- WorldSkills – SkillBuild competitors to reach the full international stage of WorldSkills – the ‘Skills Olympics’ – where elite individuals take on global competition, all striving to be acclaimed ‘Best in the World’.
Read more about the competition process here.
The 2022 National Finals
This year, the SkillBuild National Finals took place at Edinburgh College from 15 – 17 November, and the winners have been announced. Participants were awarded gold, silver, bronze, or highly commended in the following categories:
- Bricklaying
- Carpentry
- Foundation Skills: Woodworking
- Furniture and Cabinet Making
- Joinery
- Painting and Decorating
- Plastering
- Plastering and Drywall Systems
- Roofing: Slating and Tiling
- Stonemasonry
- Wall and Floor Tiling
The event attracted over a thousand school visitors from across the UK, exhibiting the variety of skills and career opportunities available within the construction industry. You can find photos from the event here.
Signing up for 2023
At On The Tools, we know just how important training and development are to our industry. Training and development could even be the answer to plugging the skills gap once and for all.
If you’re an apprentice, a trainee, or a full-time student, or if you’re thinking about joining the industry, why not give it a go?
Competitors must be at least 16 years old from 1 September the previous year and under 22 years old at the time of the international competition to register for any of the competitions.
Find out more about the eligibility criteria here.
