A student from Redcar & Cleveland College has nailed a top title at the regional heats of a prestigious national skills competition, bringing the total number of winners from the college to seven over the past eight years.

James Dent from Kirklevington near Yarm proved that he is one of the best trainees in the North East, following success at the regional heat of this year’s SkillBuild – the UK’s biggest construction skills competition.

James, 18, who is studying a Foundation Modern Apprenticeship at NVQ Level 2 in Joinery, won a gold medal in the Joinery category of the competition, which took place at Newcastle College.

After entering the competition last year, James was familiar with the event and the high standards required to win, competing with 100 other students from 14 colleges across the North East.

Talking about his success at the competition, James, who has been supported throughout his studies by his employers Walter Smith Joinery, said:

“Living on a farm, I have always enjoyed the practical hands-on style of working and through my apprenticeship and studying at the college, I could develop these skills even further. When I didn’t win last year I was gutted so it spurred me on even more to win this time and I am really pleased.”

To win the competition, including a prize of his own set of tools, James was required to create a door from pieces of softwood timber which includes drawing out the design, marking the wood, cutting accurately and assembling the pieces, using various bits of equipment.

Head of Department for Construction at Redcar & Cleveland College, Keith Smith, said of James’ success:

“Redcar & Cleveland College has a long and successful history of construction craft training and a great track record at the SkillBuild competition. The strength of the partnership between the college, local employers and providers such as Construction Skills means that we can offer top quality training to rival any college in the UK.

“James has worked really hard in this competition and his success provides additional motivation for other students on the course. We have some real talent here in the north east, as the results show and we hope that he will now go on to national success.”

Carl Dunning, Apprenticeships Officer, from ConstructionSkills who placed James with the college and arranged his employment with Walter Smith Joinery, said: “James demonstrated a natural ability from an early stage of his training and has the focus, determination and temperament to succeed when put in a competition environment.

“The college have been able to harness this talent and with the support and guidance of his tutor John Wade, proved what young people can achieve when they are motivated.”

Keith Redman, Works Manager, from Walter Smith Joinery is very proud of James, as he himself has taken part in the SkillBuild competition in the past. He said: “We have had an Apprentice each year of my thirty years with Walter Smith Joinery and I cannot recall anyone who has become so accomplished as quickly as James has done, he has a real gift for his chosen trade.

“We will continue to support him and believe that he has the undoubted ability to take him to worldskills in 2011"

James will now be flying the flag for the North East and will have their chance to compete against the other UK regions at the SkillBuild national final, which will take place from 8 – 10 September at Coleg Menai Construction Skills Centre in Anglesey. National winners from this year’s competition will then have the opportunity to represent the UK and compete in the 2011 international WorldSkills competition in London.

SkillBuild, which is organised by ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry, aims to find the UK’s best trainee across a variety of trades including: bricklaying, carpentry, joinery and painting and decorating.

The students competed against each other in their given trade to complete a set of work within the day. The competition challenged the trainees to produce accurate and high quality work within a strict timescale – all essential requirements for today’s construction industry. The work was assessed by a panel of technical experts at the end of the day when the winners in each trade were announced.

The competition, which has been running for more than 20 years, is an opportunity to recognise the importance of apprentices and full time trainees, and their skills. It also provides a platform for companies to highlight the quality of their workforce and commitment to training – which is essential in the current climate to provide businesses with a competitive edge.