SkillBuild 2023 Showcases Young Roofer’s Skills

TALENTED young roofers are being tested on their technical skills at this year’s SkillBuild, held at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.

Delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the roofing, slating and tiling competition is organized by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC).

After more than 1,000 registrations and 17 regional heats at various colleges across the UK, it brings together the regional heat winning apprentices from ten construction trades to battle it out in each of their trade categories to be crowned winner.

SkillBuild 2023

SkillBuild 2023 roofing apprentice finalists have to complete an 18-hour project set to precise judging criteria. Competitors have to complete two roofing rig areas, one in plain clay tiles, one in slate. They are given a precise technical specification to follow after felting and battening their rig. On the slate part of the rig, the apprentices have to install lead soakers to the slate roof abutment and a lead ridge. On the tiled roof, the contest includes installing purpose made valley tiles, bonnet hip tiles, a tiled ridge and GRP soakers to the abutment.

Over the course of three days, the gruelling competition will test the roofing competitors both physically and mentally.

The 2023 SkillBuild roofing finalists are from colleges:

Leeds College of Building

• George Jewitt-Knott
• Aeron Murray
• Daniel Sperry

South Devon College

• Jacob Blight
• Lewis Round

Edinburgh College

• Hamish Morgan
• Luke Cosgrove

Newcastle College

• Robert Young

Judging the competition will be Bob Coutts, Andy Rowlands and Matt Timby, all experienced roofing experts.

SkillBuild 2023 takes place between 21 – 23 November 2023. The competition includes a Construction Showcase on 22 November with interactive and immersive experiences and activities organised by NFRC supplier members, CUPA PIZARRAS and the Lead Sheet Training Academy. Sponsors of materials for Skillbuild included CUPA PIZARRAS, Hambleside Danelaw, Permavent, BMI UK and Ireland, SR Timber and Midland Lead.

Also on 22 November there are Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions, including a talk by Ben Rowlands, NFRC Technical Manager, on roof slating and tiling to provide valuable insights into the roofing industry and its best practices.

>> Read more about SkillBuild 2023 in the news