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The finalists for the SkillBuild 2026 National Finals have been officially revealed following their successful performances at the SkillBuild Regional Qualifiers. Competitors from across the United Kingdom will now advance to the final stage of the competition, scheduled to take place in November.
Delivered by the CITB, SkillBuild stands as the largest and longest-running multi-trade skills competition in the UK, serving as a premier showcase for emerging talent within the construction sector.
This year's 17 Regional Qualifiers saw approximately 700 students compete across 10 distinct construction trade categories, which included disciplines such as carpentry and bricklaying. Each regional heat took place over a single day, requiring participants to complete a practical task specific to their chosen trade.
The eight highest-scoring individuals from each category have secured their places at the National Final, which will be held at Arena MK in Milton Keynes from 17 to 19 November. Over the course of the three-day event, finalists will be required to construct a specialised project within an 18-hour time limit. A panel of expert judges will evaluate their work based on several criteria, including technical competency, time management, problem-solving skills, performance under pressure, and adherence to health and safety regulations. The event will culminate in the crowning of 10 trade winners.
The competition aligns with the CITB's recently released Industry Picture 2026 report. The document emphasizes that safeguarding the future of the construction industry and meeting national targets requires increased investment in personnel, modernised training frameworks, and cross-sector collaboration. Organisers noted that initiatives like SkillBuild depend on the collective efforts of educators and industry stakeholders to highlight sector talent and promote available career pathways.
Robert Smith, Product Manager (Careers) at CITB, said: "A huge congratulations to all the competitors that have earned their place at the 2026 SkillBuild National Final, it's a great achievement and a testament to their hard work.
"With the increased demand for construction skills, events like SkillBuild are more important than ever to highlight the industry and wide variety of career choices and our shared role in building a stronger workforce.
"The quality of the participants this year is truly amazing, I am looking forward to the National Final and wish all the competitors the best of luck."
The SkillBuild National Finalists for 2026 are available here.
Tickets for the SkillBuild National Final 2026 are available here.
CITB would like to thank all the fantastic sponsors, supporters and strategic partners of this year's SkillBuild competitions:
BAL Adhesives, Band of Builders, Brick Development Association, British Gypsum, Careers Wales, Inspiring Skills Excellence in Wales CITB NI, Crown Paints, Festool, FIS, Institute of Carpenters, N&C Nicobond, NFRC, NSITG, Saint Gobain, Schluter Systems, SPAX, Stablia, TARMAC, The Tile Association, Tilgear, Weber, Wienerberger, The Worshipful Company of Masons, and The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers & Regatta Professional.
