SkillBuild 2026 Registrations Now Open

Registrations are now open for SkillBuild 2026, as the UK’s largest and longest-running multi-trade skills competition returns.

Delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), SkillBuild invites the UK’s top construction trainee talent, skilled learners and apprentices to battle it out to be crowned winners of their chosen trade.

Registrations Open

Participants can register to compete in their nearest regional qualifier, taking place in 17 locations across the UK from March to June 2026.

During the one-day event, apprentices and trainees will complete a task relevant to their chosen trade. The eight highest-scoring competitors in each specialist skill will then be invited to take part in the next round – the SkillBuild National Final taking place in November 2026.

Robert Smith, Product Manager (Careers) at CITB, said: “I look forward to SkillBuild every year and thoroughly enjoy seeing the talent and passion that the competition brings out. SkillBuild is a brilliant chance for construction trainees to show off their skill sets while developing and learning new ones.

“With the high demand for more construction workers, especially with the Government’s plan to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029, SkillBuild is more important than ever to highlight the industry and show what the best and brightest talent have to offer.

“The feedback from those who participate each year is outstanding, and I strongly encourage anyone who can participate to register for this year’s competition.”

The SkillBuild competition categories include: roof slating and tiling; bricklaying; carpentry; drylining; furniture and cabinet making; joinery; painting and decorating; plastering; stonemasonry; and wall and floor tiling.

SkillBuild Regional Qualifiers

Regional qualifiers will be taking place at host colleges throughout the UK. The dates and locations for the 2026 SkillBuild regional qualifiers are:

• 17th March 2026 – York College
• 19th March 2026 – City College Plymouth
• 24th March 2026 – Oaklands College
• 26th March 2026 – Langley Training Services
• 31st March 2026 – Dundee and Angus College
• 14th April 2026 – Carlisle College
• 16th April 2026 – Colchester Institute
• 22nd April 2026 – Errigal Academy, London
• 23rd April 2026 – Historical Environment Scotland, Stirling
• 30th April 2026 – Burnley College
• 6th May 2026 – Exeter College
• 12th May 2026 – Dudley College of Technology
• 14th May 2026 – Newcastle College
• 19th May 2026 – Southern Regional College, Northern Ireland
• 28th May 2026 – Moulton College
• 2nd June 2026 – Leeds College of Building
• 4th June 2026 – Coleg Cambria

>> Read more about SkillBuild in the news