The First Surrey Colleges’ Construction Skills Competition Showcases Student Talent

Published on: 13 Mar, 2024
Updated on: 12 Mar, 2024

The inaugural Surrey Colleges Construction Skills Competition saw Activate Learning, Brooklands College, East Surrey College, and NESCOT (North East Surrey College of Technology) competing in the first of a series of joint activities.

Hosted at Activate Learning’s Guildford College campus in Stoke Road, the competition brought together 36 competitors forming teams from each college.

The photos show some of the students taking part in the competition.

Students congregated in the newly inaugurated carpentry workshops, eager to embark on the day’s challenge.

Divided into Level 1 and Level 2 categories, students were tasked with different assignments. Level 1 students focused on mastering basic joints, while Level 2 students were challenged to construct a door lining, as well as prepare and hang a door in the frame. With a time limit of four hours, participants showcased their skills and creativity under pressure.

The director of Construction and Engineering at Activate Learning, Geoff Coughlan, said: “It was incredible to witness the dedication and high skill levels of our potential future tradespeople.”

During a mid-day break for lunch, students took a breather before diving back into their tasks, closely observed by their tutors and a panel of judges including Matt Sindall from Beard Construction, Eddie Dignan from E M Dignan Building Contractors, and Steve Moy from East Surrey College.

In the Level 1 category, Luke Jones from East Surrey College secured the first position, with Will Hobbs from NESCOT and Stanley Trigg from Brooklands College sharing the joint second place.
For Level 2, Guilherme Abreu and Josh Fernandez from Brooklands College clinched the top spot, followed by Jack Ewles and James Lock from Guildford College in second place, and Ollie Sheeham and Ben Newman, also from Guildford College, securing third place.

Prizes included Love to Shop vouchers for the winners as well as wooden trophies hand crafted by Activate Learning’s Furniture Training Centre, Rycotewood. All were awarded by Paul Newman, executive group director of Activate Learning’s Faculties & Colleges (Southern region).