Posted: 11/07/11
James is through to UK finals
A painting and decorating student from West Nottinghamshire College is hoping to add to his awards collection when he competes in a UK construction skills challenge.
James Evans, 21, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, has been selected to represent the Midlands region at the SkillBuild national final at the Leeds College of Building in September.
The two-day challenge is being held on 14-16 September and will see James, who works for Garry Milners’ painting and decorating firm, Mansfield, putting his decorating skills to the test once more, having already won the Midlands’ regional heats back in April.
SkillBuild, run by ConstructionSkills, the sector skills council for the construction industry, has been running for more than 20 years and is an opportunity to recognise the importance of trainees and their skills and aims to find Britain’s best trainee tradesperson.
This April, competitions for the Midlands region were held at West Nottinghamshire College’s Construction and Logistics Skills Academy in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, where James secured enough points to take him through to the finals.
And James is no stranger to collecting awards, as he’s already scooped:
- A third place SkillBuild award at entry level in painting and decorating at Moulton College where he represented West Nottinghamshire College
- First place SkillBuild award at senior level in painting and decorating at West Nottinghamshire College, where he battled it out with students from seven other colleges in the region
- Apprentice of the Year award at the college’s recent celebration of achievement awards ceremony together with a special recognition award.
After competing in the two-day challenge in Leeds, James could take home another award at the grand awards dinner, which takes place at the Royal Armouries (International) plc on the night of Friday 16 September.
Programme area leader for painting and decorating at West Nottinghamshire College, Dave Cope, said: “The news that James is through to the UK finals came as no surprise to us, as he’s consistently excelled during his time at the college.
“His attention to detail and high standards have seen him win a number of awards and we’re very confident that he’ll be applying the same excellent standards to the challenge in September. He should be very proud of his success so far.”
