Applications opened on 3 February 2025 for participants to compete in their nearest Regional Qualifier in 16 locations across the UK. Tutors and employers can also enter on behalf of apprentices and learners.  

Regional Qualifiers run UK-wide from April to July each year. The events 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 advance to the next round—the SkillBuild National Final.  

Richard Bullock, head of careers products at CITB, said: “SkillBuild is a fantastic opportunity for the UK’s trainee construction talent to showcase their skills whilst learning new ones as they immerse themselves in the competition.  

“The feedback from those who participate each year is outstanding, and I strongly encourage anyone who can participate to register for this year’s competition.  

“Each year at CITB, we look forward to seeing what the UK’s construction talent has in store for us at SkillBuild.” 

Kyle Blower, SkillBuild 2025 bricklaying winner, said: “Winning SkillBuild is an incredible feeling. I’ve always wanted to be a bricklayer. My dad competed in bricklaying competitions when he was younger, winning World Skills in 1997. He inspired me to take up bricklaying and compete in SkillBuild, so I’m proud to follow in his footsteps.”

List of SkillBuild competition categories: 

·       Bricklaying  

·       Carpentry  

·       Drylining  

·       Furniture and cabinet making  

·       Joinery  

·       Painting and decorating  

·       Plastering  

·       Roof slating and tiling  

·       Stonemasonry  

·       Wall and floor tiling  

Dates and locations for Regional Qualifiers:  

·       24 April 2025 – City College Plymouth 

·       29 April 2025 – Simian Risk – Warrington (roof slating and tiling only) 

·       1 May 2025 – Trafford and Stockport College 

·       8 May 2025 – Oaklands College 

·       13 May 2025 – Burnley College 

·       20 May 2025 – South Eastern Regional College – Northern Ireland 

·       29 May 2025 – Moulton College 

·       3 June 2025 – Coleg Menai 

·       10 June 2025 – Dundee and Angus College 

·       12 June 2025 – Historic Environment Scotland, Stirling (stonemasonry only) 

·       17 June 2025 – Dudley College of Technology 

·       17 June 2025 – South Devon College (roof slating and tiling only) 

·       19 June 2025 – Preston College 

·       24 June 2025 – Newcastle College 

·       26 June 2025 – York College 

·       1 July 2025 – Leeds College of Building