TWO construction students from Warrington are celebrating success after taking the top spots in the junior and senior heats of the North West SkillBuild UK competition. 
Ashley Terron, 18, from Stockton Heath, won the senior brickwork competition and Carl Houghton, 17, from Orford, both students at Warrington Collegiate, took top spot in the junior brickwork competition, which took place at Salford City College.
The competition awards students for their brickwork skills and is organised by ConstructionSkills and endorsed by UK Skills.
Both organisations are dedicated to championing high standards of training and development through a number of skill based competitions.
The SkillBuild UK competition is a nationwide trade challenge aimed at supporting the younger generation of budding construction trainees. The competition gives them the opportunity to work their way through a series of building and brick work challenges, providing them with insight and challenges relevant to today’s very diverse construction industry.
Competitors are tasked with constructing a decorative test model, designed to challenge competitors’ ability to 
follow detailed instructions and includes designs for garden walls and other home fixtures. It also tests the students’ ability to produce accurate and neat work and challenges them to be economical with materials with the added pressure of working to strict timelines.
Callum Kneen, 18, a painting and decorating student, rounded up the wins for the college, taking a silver medal in the department’s first entry into the SkillBuild competition.
Ashley said: “I’m absolutely over the moon about winning the senior competition and improving on my performance in last year’s junior brickwork competition.
“It was tough completing a neat construction with so much of the bricklaying in challenging and awkward positions, but I’m proud that I was able to complete the job to a professional standard. I know the tests will be even more difficult if I make it to the national final but I’d love for this experience to continue.”
Curriculum manager Paul Gould said: “Both students have had a tremendous experience, and were thrilled to be asked to represent Warrington Collegiate.
“These types of competitions, not only raise the profile of the construction industry but they also demonstrate the high level of skills training which is undertaken here at Warrington Collegiate.”
The Collegiate is holding opening evenings on May 19 and June 14, from 5-8pm, when details of all the courses on offer will be available and there will be a chance to meet staff and current students.
More details: www.warrington.ac.uk
Pictured: Ashley (top) and Carl.
Students build on success
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
