Level 3 Bricklaying student Jago Gamblin won the Bricklaying category at the SkillBuild final in Edinburgh.
Jago secured his place at SkillBuild earlier in the year when he competed at the regional competition hosted at Chichester College in May, securing one of the eighth-highest scores in the country. Jago and other competitors were judged across a number of areas, including their technical expertise and time management and problem-solving skills, as well as their ability to work under pressure.
SkillBuild, often dubbed the ‘skills Olympics’, is delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) in partnership with WorldSkills UK and offers a chance for trainees to compete in a bid to be crowned winner of their chosen trade.
The competition is viewed by many as an opportunity to develop confidence, self-esteem, and life skills, along with the potential for the highest-scoring eligible competitors to join ‘Squad UK’ and compete internationally.
Commenting on his success, Jago said, “I was over the moon to hear the result; I knew I had done quite well and was hoping for a top 3 finish; however, to get the Gold medal is fantastic, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of George and Steve my Bricklaying Lecturers, I am now looking forward to hopefully going on to represent the UK in the World Skills in Lyon France and trying out my skills against the best in the world.”
Fareham College Bricklaying lecturer Steve Kirk added, “the department is exceptionally proud of Jago and the outcome he secured at the competition. He performed admirably, and the work produced was to an exceptional standard. Jago has completed his level 1, 2 and 3 Bricklaying course at the College and I have enjoyed supporting him throughout; I look forward to seeing his success in the future.”
Deputy Principal, Curriculum Quality and Innovation, Christian Allen-Kotze, commented on Jago’s exceptional performance, “It is great to see Fareham College students demonstrate their talent and skill on a national stage. The training and support received by students across the three campuses are first-rate, and I would like to thank the work of the Construction Faculty for supporting Jago throughout this competition. Many congratulations to Jago from all at Fareham College.”
