SkillBuild, the UK’s largest and longest-running multi-trade skills competition, delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), officially begins in mid-March with its first two Regional Qualifiers of 15 through until the start of June.
SkillBuild invites the UK’s top construction trainee talent, skilled learners and apprentices to battle it out to be crowned winners of their chosen trade. There are ten different trades to choose from, such as carpentry, joinery, and bricklaying. The first Regional Qualifiers at York College on March 17 th will see students battle it out in stonemasonry.
Each of the Regional Qualifiers last one day and bring together apprentices and trainees who complete a set task relevant to their chosen trade. Once the Regional Qualifiers have finished, the marks are collated and the eight highest-scoring competitors in each specialist skill go through to the next round – the SkillBuild National Final.
CITB’s Construction Workforce Outlook forecasts over 47,000 extra construction workers are needed in the UK each year by 2029, demonstrating the opportunities available for people to join the industry. Events like SkillBuild help showcase the wide array of roles available in construction and that there is something available for everyone.
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.”
For a full list of trades and venues see here: https://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/news-events-and-blogs/registrations-open-for-skillbuild-2026/
