ENTRIES are now being sought for SkillBuild 2026, the UK’s largest multi-trade skills competition.
Delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), SkillBuild invites the UK’s top construction trainees, learners, and apprentices to compete against one another to be crowned winners of their chosen trade.
Participants can register to compete in their nearest regional qualifier, taking place in 17 locations across the UK – including two in Scotland – from March to June 2026. There are ten different trades to choose from. Tutors and employers can enter on behalf of apprentices and learners too.
Each of the qualifiers last one day. Participants are challenged to complete a set task relevant to their chosen trade. The eight highest-scoring competitors in each specialist skill go through to the next round – the SkillBuild National Final.
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 list of SkillBuild categories is as follows:
- Bricklaying
- Carpentry
- Drylining
- Furniture and cabinet making
- Joinery
- Painting and decorating
- Plastering
- Roof slating and tiling
- Stonemasonry
- Wall and floor tiling
Dates and locations for regional qualifiers:
- 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
Register to compete in your nearest SkillBuild qualifier here.
