Students from colleges across the region will be battling it out in the UK’s biggest construction skills competition next week.

West Nottinghamshire College is hosting the regional heats of this year’s SkillBuild, aimed at finding Britain’s best trainee tradesperson, on Tuesday 28 April.

Taking place at its Construction and Logistics Skills Academy, the event will see 100 students from regional colleges competing in a wide range of craft-based challenges including bricklaying, carpentry, joinery, plastering, painting and decorating.

The college – which is hosting the event for the fifth successive year – is entering the following 14 students into the heats:

Dale Smith  New entrant    Bricklaying

Liam Jones  Senior  Bricklaying

Luke Johnson  Senior  Carpentry

Adam Parr  Senior   Carpentry

Josef Hadfield-Kellett  New entrant  Joinery

Ryan Hemsell  Senior  Joinery

Siannii Austin  New entrant  Painting and decorating

Lois Jade Collingwood  New entrant  Painting and decorating

Francis Hawson  Senior  Painting and decorating

Stefan Hubble  Senior  Painting and decorating

Connor Bradshaw  New entrant  Plastering

Corey Knowles  New entrant  Plastering

Joshua Flanagan  Senior  Plastering

Stuart Peach  Senior  Plastering

Success at the SkillBuild regional heats will give entrants the opportunity to challenge for a place on the World Skills UK team and progress to compete at the 2015WorldSkills competition in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Members of the public are welcome to attend Tuesday’s event, which runs from 9am – 5pmat the venue on Julias Way in Kirkby-in-Ashfield. 

Head of construction and building services, Julian Walden, said: “We’re very proud to be hosting the regional SkillBuild competitions again and to watch the talents and creativity of every competing student across the trades.

“SkillBuild always creates a sense of excitement at the college and I personally wish every competitor the best of luck with their challenges.”

SkillBuild has been running for more than 20 years as a way of recognising the importance of trainees and their skills.