A PEMBROKESHIRE bricklaying trainee, Zak Longthorpe, is to build on his success after securing a place at the National Final of SkillBuild 2013 - the UK’s largest multi-trade competition.

SkillBuild is an annual event which is managed by CITB - the Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board for the construction industry - and supported by local employers as well as national sponsors.

Zak Longthorpe, who attends Pembrokeshire College, obtained a place at the SkillBuild UK final, which will take place at Birmingham NEC on 13 November, following success at the South Wales regional heat, which saw him achieve one of the highest scores in his category from across the UK.

Zak is one of nine trainees from Wales who has successfully won a place at this year’s SkillBuild UK Final.

He will be joined by almost 100 trainees from across the UK, who have all managed to come out top in their field in their respective regional heats which took place between April and June.

Director for CITB Wales Wyn Prichard said: “SkillBuild is one of the many ways that CITB adds value to the industry, working on its behalf to encourage new talent to join the sector.

“We’re delivering gold standard apprenticeships that meet the needs of a hi-tech, world class industry with outstanding career prospects, and the quality of the work done by competitors at SkillBuild is testament to this.

“The level of skill, determination and professionalism shown by the competitors has been outstanding, and everyone who has taken part in the competition should feel very proud of themselves.

“I would like to wish all the trainees that have been announced as finalists every success at this year’s UK Final.”

Categories at this year’s SkillBuild UK Final will include bricklaying, cabinet making, carpentry, joinery, painting and decorating, plastering, stonemasonry, drywall systems, wall and floor tiling.

For more information about SkillBuild please go to http://www.citb.co.uk/en-GB/Careers-in-Construction/SkillBuild/.