City College Plymouth proudly hosted the 2025 Regional Qualifier for SkillBuild, the UK’s largest and longest-running construction skills competition, on Thursday 24 April.
Delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and supported by Go Construct, SkillBuild brought together the most talented apprentices and students in the construction industry to compete in a series of practical challenges across a range of trades. 75 contestants from across the South West took part in categories including bricklaying, carpentry, joinery, painting and decorating, and plastering, all under the pressure of a timed, six-hour challenge. Following the success of this year’s event, the College has been selected to host the first round of regional qualifiers for the next four years, reinforcing City College Plymouth’s reputation as a centre of excellence for construction skills training.
Held at the College’s Kings Road campus, the one-day event showcased the technical abilities, time management and problem-solving skills of some of the region’s most promising future tradespeople. Competitors were scored on industry-standard tasks by expert judges, including special guest Luke Mabbot, a trained construction worker and former Love Island contestant, who brought both industry knowledge and a celebrity buzz to the event. The top eight highest-scoring students in each category will earn a chance to qualify for the SkillBuild National Final later this year.
The College was strongly represented with 20 of its own construction students competing. SkillBuild offers a powerful learning experience, giving students the chance to gain real-world insight into working conditions, learn from industry professionals and demonstrate their readiness for the next step in their careers.
Terry Such, Curriculum Lead & Development Officer for Construction & the Built Environment at City College Plymouth, said, “It’s a privilege to once again host the SkillBuild regional qualifier. It shines a spotlight on the incredible talent coming through our workshops and gives students a real sense of what it’s like to perform under industry conditions. There’s a great buzz across campus when events like this take place, and for many of our students, it becomes a key moment in their training.”
Hosting the SkillBuild qualifier highlights the College’s focus on industry-aligned learning, high-level technical skills and preparing students for real employment opportunities in a growing sector.