We have a month to go until the 2026 SkillBuild National Final in Milton Keynes. Eight finalists in ten construction trades have already aced their regional qualifiers, but what does it take to become a SkillBuild national champion?
Speaking at the Moulton College regional qualifiers, judges Marcus DiNino, Jack Goodram and Chris Berridge gave us the lowdown on what sets winners apart.
“Commitment, hard work and practice”
Carpentry judge Jack Goodram says winning takes “a lot of commitment, hard work and practice and a little bit of an element of some natural skill.”
This reflects the varied nature of a carpentry career. Carpenters may work indoors or outdoors, use a wide range of materials and tools, and take on both simple and complex jobs.
“I think a lot of it is just down to the competitors as individuals knowing what they need to improve and just trying the best they can really.
“That’s what we’re after at the end of the day – their best.”
Jack would know. Before becoming a judge, he competed in both the SkillBuild and World Skills finals himself.
“It’s the basics”
Bricklaying judge Marcus DiNino agrees, declaring winning takes “a lot of dedication”.
Ultimately, though, he believes the key to winning SkillBuild is mastering your craft from the ground up. Bricklayers create the base structures that other trades build upon, meaning their work needs to be solid from the start.
Marcus says: “It’s the basics. You've got to be able to do the basics correct and with them you can go far.”
“Attention to detail”
Stonemasonry judge Chris Berridge urges competitors to pay “attention to detail”.
The nature of stonemasonry means that winning is all about the fine details. To stand out from the competition, Chris says, you need to keep your precision throughout the day.
He says: “It's that finishing half an hour where you've got the job done to a B class standard and you're just finessing it, making it look pukka and tidying up your edges, making sure your templates are fitting. That last little 10% will pick up those few marks.”
As we know from the regional qualifiers, those final few marks can make all the difference.
The SkillBuild National Final 2026 takes place on 18-19 November at Arena MK, Milton Keynes. Spectator tickets are free and open to everyone.