A TAVISTOCK construction trainee has won first place at the finals of the UK's largest multi-trade competition, SkillBuild 2013.

Jenny Sibley, 20 who studies at City College Plymouth, has already triumphed at the South West regional heat of SkillBuild and will compete against the other regional winners at the Skills Show, the UK's biggest skills and careers show, which takes place at the NEC Birmingham from November 14 to 16.

Jenny, who is employed by the National Trust, will be competing in the painting and decorating category, against the best trainees in the country. The three day competition is staged by CITB, the Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board for the construction industry, and will see more than 100 talented individuals battling to be crowned the best in their field in a range of skills from stonemasonry to painting and decorating.

Gillian Cain, regional delivery manager for CITB in the south, said: 'The SkillBuild 2013 finals will celebrate the enormous amount of construction talent across the nation. The finals bring together the country's most promising construction trainees and we are really excited to see another year of outstanding achievement.

SkillBuild encourages excellence, helps to raise standards in training and is an exciting way to showcase the outstanding talent coming into the construction industry.'

Julie Mclean, director of technology, marine and renewables at City College Plymouth, said: 'We're delighted to see Jennifer go through to the national finals of SkillBuild 2013. It's a real testament to the work that she been doing, and we foresee a bright future ahead for her.'

SkillBuild is run by CITB as part of its commitment to training and excellence across the construction industry. SkillBuild is the UK's biggest and longest running skills competition and in 2013 the national final will be held at the Skills Show, at the NEC Birmingham.

The competition starts at 9am on Wednesday, November 13. Competitors have until noon on Friday, November 15, to demonstrate their skills by producing work based as accurately as possible from drawings that are unveiled at the start of the competition.

The competition will be followed by a SkillBuild reception event, and then an awards event held in conjunction with the Skills Show.