INDUSTRY NEWS SkillBuild 2019 winners announced


THE winners of this year’s SkillBuild National Finals have been announced by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), following an intense three-day competition at this year’s WorldSkills UK LIVE.


The largest multi-trade competition in the UK for construction trainees and apprentices, SkillBuild encompasses competitions across 10 trades:


• Bricklaying – Gold: Adam Batty, Barnsley College


• Carpentry – Gold: Cai Henshaw, Grwp Llandrillo Menai


• Furniture and Cabinet Making – Gold: Jack Eggleston, Cornwall College


• Joinery – Gold: Alex Howe, West Suffolk College


• Painting and Decorating – Gold: Gatis Celmins, Inverness College UHI


• Plastering – Gold: Raymond Stirling, City of Glasgow College


• Plastering and Drywall Systems – Gold: Brendan Duddy, North West Regional College


• Roof Slating and Tiling – Gold: Philip


Houghton, Eastern Region Training Group and Jordan Condren, Newcastle College


• Stonemasonry – Gold: James Digger, York College


• Wall and Floor Tiling – Gold: Dylan Calvert, Southern Regional College


The SkillBuild competitions were sponsored by supporters including Dickies Workwear, which provided clothing and safety footwear for all competitors, plus judges and delivery team members.


Nick James, partnership director at CITB, said: “It’s great to see such talented people from across the UK nations come together for the National Final of SkillBuild. These competitions offer an opportunity for trainees and apprentices to demonstrate their skills and gain their first steps into the industry.


“We are also grateful to have a globally recognised brand like Dickies, working in association with SkillBuild to provide appropriate workwear for staff and competitors.”


Bradfords Building Supplies scoops national award


YEOVIL-headquartered Bradfords Building Supplies has won Independent Builders’ Merchant of the Year at the Builders’ Merchants Awards against stiff national competition.


The Builders’ Merchants Awards is run in partnership with the Builders Merchants Federation and celebrates the best and the brightest in the merchant industry.


The awards were judged by a panel of key industry stakeholders from the Federation of Master Builders, Builders Merchants Association (BMA), Worshipful Company of Builders Merchants and the Construction Products Association (CPA) and presented by Dame Kelly Holmes MBE.


The judges’ comments cited the hard work the Bradfords team have put in to deliver


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innovative and best- in-class service for customers and suppliers alike. In particular, the company’s focus on providing the easiest customer journey by utilising technology. The online trade portal that was created by the in-house development team gives account customers a full service – from buying online using their specific terms, to providing a detailed history of transactions and an ability to pay accounts – and was one of the tools judges were most impressed by.


Commenting on the win, David Young, CEO of Bradfords Building Supplies said: “This accolade is a celebration of our ‘can do’ culture. This award belongs to our


700-strong team across our network of 43 branches who always put customer service first. This is a super starting point from which to kickstart our 250th anniversary in 2020.”


The award ceremony took place at the London Hilton on Park Lane on Friday 22 November 2019.


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