This week Bradford College relaunched their annual Carpentry & Joinery ‘Student Skills Competition’ over at their Construction & Engineering Trinity Green Campus.
Ten enthusiastic first-year full-time students participated in the six-hour challenge, eager to demonstrate their newly acquired, industry-ready skills to the judges.
James Haigh, Business Development & Engagement Manager from Bradford College stated ‘’It’s a privilege to host these events for our students with the support of our industry & supplier chain partners, reaffirming the importance of our employer endorsed pre-employment study programs’’
Tutors Kelvin Tynan, Kevin Fish and Kieran Dalby managed the set up and conducted the day under a very well-organised relaxed atmosphere, They expressed their pride in the students they have taught all year, praising their confidence in stepping up to the challenge.
The Students produced outstanding samples of work, utilising multiple hand cut joints using traditional joinery techniques, Jonathan Hemmingway, Director at Abrahams & Carlisle and endorser of the Level 1 Carpentry & Joinery department commented ‘’ It was a pleasure to be asked to judge at this years competition at Bradford College. The overall standard of skills on display was excellent from the students, making the decision for a winner all the more difficult’’
The event was sponsored by local tool supplier’s, A-One Tools & Fixings, Brighouse Ltd & they provided some fantastic prizes for the day. With all the students focused on the task, the clock was ticking down toward the completion time, with the incentive of top quality tools on offer this really spurred the students to be the best they could be. Mr Matt Wales, Sales manager at A-one commented ‘’The quality of the work highlights how far these students have come since September, they are truly a credit to the tutors and staff involved. Hats off to James Haigh & Olivia Walsh for arranging the event, Let’s bring on next year and make it even BIGGER!’’
The top 3 were carefully selected, and the judges really struggled to get it down to just three with some genuinely exceptional work on show, but 1st prize went to Harry Firth, a very close 2nd Wade Roberts with Seth Szyczak taking up the last slot on the podium of 3rd place.
Stephen Smith, Head Of Department for Construction & Engineering said ‘’ we are immensely proud of our first skills competition in quite some time, enabling our learners to showcase the skills and behaviours required by industry to employers on the day, with the hope it will lead them into an engaging career in their chosen industry’’
