Builder awards search is on

TALENTED construction trainees could be crowned the best in Britain like Oldham stonemason Gary Collier.

The North-West heats of SkillBuild 2010 take place at Salford Community College on April 29 and Blackpool and the Fylde College on May 20.

Competitors will be put through their paces in their main construction trade in categories including bricklaying, carpentry, joinery, cabinet making, roofing, stonemasonry, plastering, tiling, and painting and decorating.

Winners will take part in the national final and could even represent the UK at the next international WorldSkills competition in October, 2011.

Gary, from Shaw, won through to the international event after being named the young stonemason of the year in the UK final in 2004.

Competition manager Heather Bliss said: “I would really encourage colleges and employers to back their best trainees and enter for free in this year’s SkillBuild. Last year, more than 1,300 trainees took part — the standard was fantastic.”

Download an entry form at www.cskills.org/skillbuild . The deadline for entries is March 19.