From Contestant to Judge: How SkillBuild helped me land my first job in construction

Meet Tom Whitehead, a stonemason from Huddersfield and former SkillBuild competitor. Tom’s story is a great example of how putting yourself out there and playing to your strengths can lead to exciting opportunities.

Tom was first introduced to SkillBuild while studying at college which hosted an internal competition where the winners would go on to compete in the regional SkillBuild qualifiers. At the time, Tom had no idea that this competition would later help him secure his first job in the construction industry. 

Getting his first job in construction

Remarkably, in his first year, Tom went on to win his college’s stonemasonry competition. The company judging his work were hugely impressed and later offered him an apprenticeship, kickstarting his career within the industry.

“SkillBuild got me my first job, and the competition also does a great job of promoting the industry and putting it into the mainstream media, where people can appreciate the skill and craftsmanship involved across the entire construction sector,” explained Tom.

Becoming a judge

After completing college and his apprenticeship, Tom’s relationship with SkillBuild didn’t end there. He was later invited to become a regional SkillBuild stonemasonry judge by someone who had assessed him when he was a competitor.

“I’ve now been involved as a judge for about four years. I was invited to join by a couple of the guys who run it, including someone who had actually judged me back when I was competing at college.

“They asked if I’d like to become a judge, which was fantastic, and I’ve really enjoyed being part of it from this side. It’s great to meet up with the other judges, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see new talent coming through the colleges and into the industry,” said Tom.

What is it like competing in SkillBuild?

“Having competed myself, I really understand the pressure the competitors are under. I used to put a lot of pressure on myself, so I know exactly how it feels. As a judge, I try to help them relax as much as possible. At the same time, I want them to recognise that a bit of pressure can be a positive thing and can sometimes push you to perform at your best.”

What advice would you give to future SkillBuild competitors?

“My advice would be to go into SkillBuild with the mindset of enjoying the experience and doing the best you can. Focus on performing to the best of your ability, and if you approach it with a positive attitude and give it your all, you’ll get a lot out of it.”

Learn more about SkillBuild and how you can get involved here.