On the day, our brickwork workshop was divided into two separate workspaces to accommodate both the junior and senior categories with eight competitors in each section competing for entry to the final heat on Wednesday 27 June at Brooklands College in Weybridge.

A team of three professional judges, Steve Barlow, Bill Bowman and Dennis Westwood and representatives from the competition’s supporters and sponsors - Saint Gobain (construction material suppliers)  Wienerberger (the UK’s leading provider of brick, blocks, roof tiles and paving slabs), Tilgear (building material and tool suppliers for schools and Colleges), Ox (construction tool manufacturer) and the Mortar Industry Association (MIA) attended the heat that saw Joseph Ritchie win the senior title with Zak Kharbough taking the junior prize. Both Joseph and Zak are students at Brooklands College. After a gruelling six-hour marathon build, the winners were presented with their awards by Guild of Bricklayers President, Kevin Harold.

Rob Lynch, Head of STEM at our Holly Hill and Kidbrooke Campuses, was instrumental in bringing the competition to south east London this year, he said: “We are proud to have brought this very esteemed industry competition to the College and to have fielded four of our own students into the contest. They were, Charlie Bratton and Adam Kirby (Seniors), Joe Williams and David Kaminski (Juniors). Though they didn’t come out as eventual winners, they certainly learnt a lot through taking part; particularly about preparation, speed and above all, accuracy. I am very proud of their efforts today.

“I’d like to congratulate the winners of this heat and I wish them all the best for the grand final next week.”


If you think you have what it takes to become a construction trade professional and would like to build a successful career in the building services and built environment industries, we’d like to hear from you. We have a great range of courses and apprenticeship opportunities to get you started. Come along to one of our open events. Click here to learn more.


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PW