REGIONAL qualifiers are set to begin for the annual multi-trade competition SkillBuild, delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
15 regional heats will take place at various locations across the UK – including two in Scotland in Dundee and Stirling – before finishing in June.
SkillBuild invites construction trainees, learners and apprentices to battle it out to be crowned winners of their chosen trade. There are ten different trades to choose from, including carpentry, joinery, and bricklaying.
Each of the regional qualifiers last one day, with participants challenged to complete a set task relevant to their chosen trade. The eight highest-scoring competitors in each specialist skill will compete in the SkillBuild National Final later this year.
Robert Smith, product manager (careers) at CITB, said, “It’s always so inspiring to see the talent and passion that the competition brings out – I’m looking forward to the first of the regional qualifiers starting this month.
“The industry needs a steady and strong flow of talent to deliver critical infrastructure and support the government to reach its goal of building millions of new homes. SkillBuild is a brilliant chance for construction trainees to show off their skillsets while developing and learning new ones and showing what the construction industry has to offer.”
The list of SkillBuild competition 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
The dates and locations for 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
Find out more about your local SkillBuild Regional Qualifier here.
