Published 11/12/24
Celebrating the future of Bricklaying – wienerberger’s sponsorship of SkillBuild 2024
We are passionate about supporting the next generation of skilled bricklayers and construction professionals. We’re proud to sponsor the Bricklaying competition of SkillBuild 2024, the UK’s largest multi-skill trade competition, referred to as “the Olympic Games of construction training”.
What is SkillBuild?
The SkillBuild Final 2024 will bring together the top eight scoring competitors in 10 construction trades. Following over 1,000 registrations and 19 regional heats – 13 of them which were for bricklaying, the finalists will meet at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes from 19th to 21st November. Over three days, they will tackle a project assigned by an expert of panel judges, with only 18 hours to complete it.
Competitors will be tested not just on their skills and precision, but also on their ability to work under pressure, follow health and safety protocols, and deliver their project with finesse. It’s an event designated to celebrate the very best in trainee construction, from bricklaying to carpentry, and everything in between.
Richard Bullock, Head of Careers Products at CITB and SkillBuild organiser, describes the competition; “It’s the UK’s largest multi-skills trade competition, with competitors applying from all over the country. This is about excellence, not just competence.”
We’ve currently donated over 20,000 bricks to 13 regional heats, as well as the grand final in Milton Keynes, and will continue to support competitors throughout the main event.
Meet us at the SkillBuild Showcase!
As part of the event, we’ll be present at the Construction Showcase on Wednesday, November 20th, and Thursday, November 21st. Visitors will have the opportunity to try their hand at various construction trades, and we’ll be hosting our own bricklaying challenges using our Eco-Brick range.
Students and visitors can compete against their friends, with the same scoring criteria applied as in the main competition – precision, use of materials, and adherence to timelines. We’re creating a fun, hands-on way for attendees to experience what it takes to excel in bricklaying.
A positive impact on the future of Construction
Competitions like SkillBuild do more than just showcase talent – they inspire and drive-up standards across the industry. As Mike Burdett, Deputy Head of Construction at York College and SkillBuild judge says: “This competition is beneficial on so many levels, from personal pride and confidence to driving up standards across the industry and inspiring young people to pursue careers in construction.”
As an industry, we need to challenge the outdated perception that university is the only path to success. Vocational skills are critical to the future of construction as we strive to meet the ambitious targets set by Labour’s housebuilding policy, which aims to construct 1.5million new homes within five years. The need for skilled labour has never been more pressing and events like SkillBuild are key to encouraging young talent to explore and excel in these fields.
We caught up with judges, competitors & organisers at the York heat to find out what SkillBuild means to the future of construction and the importance of competitions and training to help encourage young talent into the bricklaying industry.
Come and see the best of the UK in action!
If you want to witness first-hand the skill & craftsmanship that goes into bricklaying and other construction trades, join us at the SkillBuild National Final 2024. Tickets for the event are free and can be booked here.