Forterra is donating tens of thousands of bricks to colleges around the UK as part of SkillBuild, a competition to find the best trainee construction talent in the country.
Budding bricklayers will be using our London Bricks in all 11 regional heats of SkillBuild, which is the largest multi-trade competition in the country, covering 10 trade occupations including bricklaying, carpentry, plastering and roofing.
SkillBuild, which is run by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), has been running for 50 years. Regional heats of the competition are taking place around the UK, in which construction students compete to be crowned the SkillBuild winner in their chosen trade.
In total, Forterra is donating more than 35,000 of its iconic London Bricks to colleges in cities including London, Newcastle, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham, Brighton, Leicester and York, for the regional heats, which take place until July.
Forterra will also be providing bricks for the SkillBuild UK final, which takes place in autumn this year.
Oliver Farrell, CITB Assistant Product Manager, said: “We are very grateful that Forterra has generously provided its bricks for all colleges hosting the 2018 SkillBuild regional heats.
“As part of SkillBuild, competitors are tested not only on their technical abilities, but on their time-management, character and commitment and the competitions can help them build their confidence, self-esteem and life skills.
“SkillBuild is a great way for young people to start a rewarding career in construction. The sector has a lot of opportunity. Our Construction Skills Network forecast shows that 158,000 jobs will be created in the UK between now and 2022.”
London Bricks are made exclusively by Forterra at its Kings Dyke facility in Whittlesey, and have been used in the construction of over five million homes for more than 140 years.
Stephen Harrison, Chief Executive of Forterra, said; “We’re very proud to donate our London Bricks to be used as part of CITB’s SkillBuild 2018, which aims to find the leading builders of the future.
“We wish the competitors all the best in these regional heats and in their future careers, and hope our products help the students at these colleges learn the vital skills they need to become the next generation of homebuilders.”
As well as donating bricks to bricklaying courses at colleges across the country, Forterra has its own apprenticeship course available, offering placements to learners as they work in the companies’ facilities across the UK. For more details on how to apply for a Forterra apprenticeship, visit: www.forterra.co.uk/careers/apprentices
For more details about CITB SkillBuild 2018, visit www.citb.co.uk/careers-in-construction/experience-it/skillbuild/