Kent colleges to host construction challenge

An inter-college competition will see construction students from MidKent College’s Maidstone Campus competing alongside those from South Kent College, Canterbury College, North West Kent College, Thanet College and West Kent College. 

This week, construction lecturers from each competing college will swap sites to judge how students have performed.  For many learners it will be the first time they have been judged by anyone outside of their own workshop.

MidKent College will host its own part of the SkilledUp competition today, Thursday February 25, when a selection of construction students will complete a day-long challenge before having their work judged by tutors from nearby North West Kent College.

Competitive assessments will be undertaken in bricklaying, carpentry, joinery and painting and decorating, with first place winners invited to compete at the grand final on 23 June 2010.

This will be the second time Kent’s colleges have staged this cross-county event, and this year, for the first time, prizes will include power tools from sponsor, Makita UK, the UK’s number one professional power tool manufacturer. Further sponsorship is being offered by Wates Construction, one of the UK’s largest building and construction companies. 

It is hoped that the popular inter-college event will help to prepare Kent’s youngsters for the international SkillBuild competition. Set to be hosted by London in 2011, the international event will see plasterers, builders, decorators and carpenters going head-to-head to show off their skills.

SkilledUp project director, Mike Stanley said: ‘The SkilledUp event is an exciting opportunity for students to showcase their talents, which will ultimately boost their confidence and motivation to succeed and be recognised as the best in their craft.’