Cornwall Opportunities
St Austell apprentice cements second place at national bricklaying competition Jack Smith, a Level 2 Bricklaying apprentice with TG Building Contractors from the St Austell campus of The Cornwall College Group (TCCG), was selected to compete at the Western bricklaying regionals hosted at Swindon College, building his way up to the top of the leader board, finishing in first place. This put him through to the national competition in June 2024.
The finals in London brought together the top bricklaying apprentices from across the country, where they competed for the prestigious title of Guild of Bricklayers’ National Champion where Jack finished in second place. Participants were put through rigorous rounds of bricklaying challenges, testing their skills, abilities and expertise. Commenting on the success, Jack said: “I’m incredibly proud to see all the hard work and dedication I’ve put into my apprenticeship recognised in the regional competition and on a national stage and showcasing the skills I’ve gained during my time at TCCG.”
Apprenticeship Programme Manager in Bricklaying at TCCG, Neil Cochrane, commended “Jack’s achievement is testament to his meticulous attention to detail, work ethic and punctuality.” Jack’s employer, Thomas Gay, added: “Jack has been an invaluable part of our team. His dedication, skills and enthusiasm have been evident in every project he undertakes. We’re thrilled to see him achieve this recognition.” Ben’s Story – Course: Hard Hat Ready
Ben completed a Level 2 Bricklaying course at Truro and Penwith College’s Truro campus, becoming qualified just before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as the construction industry and education sector were heavily impacted, he had to find alternative temporary work. Eager to return to bricklaying, Ben faced a significant hurdle: he did not have a CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card, which is essential for working on a building site.
Fortunately, Truro and Penwith College’s Future Skills Institute offered the Hard Hat Ready course. This programme equips attendees with the knowledge and tools to pass the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) Health and Safety test, a prerequisite for obtaining a CSCS card. Ben shared: “I had failed my CSCS test twice while trying to re-enter the construction industry. I joined this course for the support I needed. The two days of intensive theory were great, and I passed both the health and safety and CSCS tests. Now, I can finally work on-site.”
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