APPRENTICE Lee Wickett has been recognised as the best painter and decorator in the South West at the regional SKILLBUILD competition, whose major sponsors are CITB-ConstructionSkills and Jewson. Lee, of Tavistock, was one of 68 young people to compete at Somerset College of Arts and Technology for the chance to represent the South West at the SKILLBUILD National Final in October. He will pit his skills against some of the most talented young tradespeople in the UK, with the hope of being crowned the nation?s best young painter and decorator. SKILLBUILD, the UK?s annual national skills competition for young people in construction, will be held from October 11 to 13 at Barnfield College, Luton. Trades represented will include bricklaying, cabinet making, carpentry, joinery, painting and decorating, plastering, stonemasonry and wall and floor tiling. Paul Sykes, recruitment manager for CITB-ConstructionSkills, a major sponsor of SKILLBUILD said: ?Lee?s achievement is a fantastic demonstration of the high level of skills that exist in the construction industry, but we need to recruit more young people who are looking for a rewarding and exciting career. ?Construction offers a host of opportunities and the chance to develop top class skills.?
