South Lanarkshire College Roof Slating and tiling student Jordan Maley has won golf at SkillBuild Construction Skills competition.  SkillBuild often dubbed the ‘skills Olympics’, is delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) in partnership with WorldSkills UK and offers a chance for trainees to compete in a bid to be crowned winner of their chosen trade.

Following the Regional Qualifiers, which were held at various colleges across the UK earlier this year, the National Finals took place at Edinburgh College on 15 – 17 November. The event attracted roughly 1,000 school visitors from across Edinburgh and the Lothians, exhibiting the variety of skills and career opportunities available within the industry.

SkillBuild is the largest multi-trade competition in the UK for construction trainees and apprentices, and as competitors progress through each stage, they are tested on their technical abilities, time management, character, and commitment. The competition is viewed by many as an opportunity to develop confidence, self-esteem, and life skills, along with the potential for the highest-scoring eligible competitors to join ‘Squad UK’ and compete internationally.

Ben Blackledge, Deputy Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “Congratulations to Jordan Maley from South Lanarkshire College on their gold medal success in the Roof Slating and Tiling Competition.  “We hope that their achievement will inspire more people to consider an apprenticeship and technical training as a route to great career success.  “Using insights gained from our competition-based programmes, we work with our partners to raise standards in training, helping to drive economic growth across the UK.”   

Jordan Maley’s lecturer at South Lanarkshire College, Ross Hepburn commented

“Everyone in our College community is delighted for Jordan, after winning the Great British Slate Off Championship in 2021, Jordan has gone from strength to strength with his roof slating and tiling skills.  Jordan is an outstanding student and is pleasure to teach, I wish him success in the next stage in his journey”.

Tim Balcon, CITB Chief Executive, said:

“I’m delighted to have been able to attend yet another year of SkillBuild, my favourite day in the calendar. It’s fantastic to meet all the talented individuals and hear about their career aspirations. It’s so important that we support this next generation of talent coming through to industry, encouraging them to pursue their passions and reach their full potential.

“It’s initiatives like SkillBuild that really make a huge difference and I’d like to thank everyone involved in making this year’s competition possible. Many congratulations to all the winners and everyone who competed, you should all be incredibly proud of yourselves.”