Leeds College of Building Hosting SkillBuild Heats

LEEDS COLLEGE OF BUILDING is hosting the 2022 SkillBuild Regional Qualifying Heats for Roof Slating and Tiling.

Starting on Thursday 9 June, the SkillBuild heats will showcase some of Yorkshire’s most talented roofing apprentices. The event kicked off in April, with 16 regional heats now happening at various colleges across the UK until the end of June.

SkillBuild Heats

SkillBuild is the largest and longest running multi-trade skills competition in the UK for construction trainees and apprentices. Delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), SkillBuild forms part of WorldSkills UK and is often dubbed the ‘skills Olympics’ for some of the most in-demand construction trades.

The College last hosted a Regional Qualifier in 2019 when it was the Roof Slating & Tiling competition venue. This is the first time the College has acted as the host for the whole of the Yorkshire region.

Apart from the Roof Slating & Tiling apprentices taking part in the heats, Leeds College of Building will welcome competitors for the regional heats of Bricklaying, Carpentry, Joinery, Painting & Decorating, Plastering, Plastering & Drywall systems, and Wall & Floor Tiling.

Top scoring roofing competitors will move onto the second stage in the competition, qualifying for the 2022 SkillBuild UK National Competition Final being held this year at two Edinburgh College campuses from Monday 14 November.

Fantastic Opportunity

The competition takes place at a time when there is a skills shortage and demand for more workers in the roofing industry is high. 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.

WorldSkills UK Deputy CEO Ben Blackledge said: “Taking part in a WorldSkills UK competition can be a life-changing experience, and I would like to wish all the construction competitors the very best of luck in their heats.

“WorldSkills UK’s 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.”

Mark Sims, Leeds College of Building Lecturer and Competition Coordinator, said: “We are delighted to host the SkillBuild Yorkshire heats and see some of our own students representing the College at a regional level. It’s a real testament to the work that they have been doing, and we foresee a bright future ahead for them.

“The College has a great track record in the competition, and we hope 2022 will be no exception. It’s fantastic to see the competition opening up again, and we look forward to welcoming competitors from across the region to our campus.”

Roofing Workshop

Leeds College of Building has a dedicated roofing workshop where some 80 apprentices train and is currently recruiting for a range of courses related to construction and the built environment commencing in September 2022.

>> Read more about SkillBuild 2022 in the news.