Rawtenstall student is North West's top brickie

2:14pm Thursday 24th April 2008

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A BUILDING student has been recognised as the region's best young brickie.

Wesley Rackham 19, from Rawtenstall, who attends Accrington and Rossendale College, won first place in the senior bricklaying category at the recent regional heats of the Skillbuild competition.

Wesley Rackham said: "I am really pleased to win and I can't wait to go through to the national final.

"The SkillBuild final will give me something to aim for, and from this experience I think it's the best way to learn and to improve your skills."

Skillbuild, managed by ConstructionSkills, the sector skills council for the construction industry, aims to promote excellence among young people entering the industry.

More than 80 students from across the North West competed against each other in a wide range of construction trades including bricklaying, carpentry, cabinet making, joinery and painting and decorating, at the regional heat held at Preston College on April 16.

Each student competed in one category, for example bricklaying, and they were each given a project to complete, such as building a wall. The competition was open to all 17 to 21-year-old men and women currently training in construction through FE colleges or work-based apprenticeships at S/NVQ level 2-3.

Contestants registered via the ConstructionSkills website and turned up on the day with tools.

Wesley will now go on compete against other regional winners in a major national final taking place in Leeds in October, in the hope of being crowned Britain's Building Idol.

Daniel Roebuck, 20, from Darwen, and a pupil at Blackburn College, won second place.

Daniel said: "I feel proud to have done so well.

"I think the SkillBuild final is a great experience for apprentices - it's an opportunity to improve your skills.

"A lot of people don't know these types of events exist and I think more people should consider becoming an apprenticeship and get involved."

Apprenticeship manager for ConstructionSkills, Simon Hood, said: "Britain has some extremely talented young tradespeople who deserve to be recognised for their skill and it was great to see so many people competing in the regional heats.

"The North West construction industry needs 8,870 new recruits every year for the next five years in order to meet demand.

"Events such as Skillbuild are vital to help raise the profile of the industry and highlight the opportunities available to young people."

National winners will go forward to represent their country in WorldSkills, the skills Olympics', held every two years in different cities across the world.

The next WorldSkills will be held in 2009 in Calgary, Canada. In 2011, London is hosting WorldSkills.