National SkillBuild 2024 Final: Bradford College Level 2 Joinery Apprentice, Ahmed Shakir, gets ready to impress

Ahmed Shakir, a Level 2 Joinery Apprentice at Bradford College, is set to compete as part of the prestigious SkillBuild national final, which takes place this week.  Delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), SkillBuild is the UK’s largest multi-trade competition for construction trainees and apprentices, spotlighting top talent from across the country. 

National SkillBuild 2024 finalist - Bradford College Level 2 Joinery Apprentice, Ahmed Shakir

Ahmed’s journey with Bradford College began in 2021, when he enrolled on a Carpentry and Joinery course, completing both Level 1 and Level 2 over a two-year period. Eager to further develop his skills, Ahmed joined Abrahams & Carlisle in September 2023 to begin his apprenticeship in Bench Joinery. 

Jonathan Hemingway, Director at Abrahams & Carlisle, said: “Ahmed’s talent was clear from the beginning. He took to the work immediately, crafting custom joinery items with an impressive level of skill and precision.”

This year, Abrahams & Carlisle entered Ahmed into the SkillBuild regional competition - held at York College in July - where he competed against other top apprentices from across the region. Ahmed placed second and, with one of the highest scores in his category, secured a spot in the national final. 

Jonathan Hemingway, Director at Abrahams & Carlisle, where Ahmed is carrying out his apprenticeship in Bench Joinery

Reflecting on his achievement, Ahmed commented: “Being one of the final eight was a huge surprise, but it’s exciting! I’m really looking forward to the challenge.” 

Ahmed’s achievements add to Bradford College’s exceptional legacy of excellence in apprenticeship training, designed to equip students with practical skills and connect them with industry leaders such as Abrahams & Carlisle.  

The College has supported hundreds of apprentices in building fulfilling careers and achieving their professional goals, with recent Qualification Achievement Rates (QAR) reports revealing Bradford College as one of England’s top five large Further Education colleges for apprenticeship achievement rates.

Ahmed has already demonstrated an impressive level of skill and precision while working on a variety of custom carpentry projects

The SkillBuild national final will take place from 20-21 November at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes. Competing apprentices from across the UK will showcase their skills in a series of timed challenges designed to test their expertise, precision, and adaptability. Participants will have three days to construct a challenging project, showcasing the skills developed through their training.

Ahmed’s achievement follows success at the 2024 Bradford College STAR Awards where he was named both ‘Carpentry and Joinery Student of the Year’ and ‘Inspirational Student of the Year,’ reflecting his dedication and passion for the craft.

Bradford College apprenticeships provide a strong foundation for success. With hands-on training, real industry experience and support from expert instructors, apprentices gain the skills and confidence required to excel in their careers. 

Explore exciting apprenticeship opportunities at the next Bradford College open day, which takes place on Saturday 23 November, from 10am-1pm. To book a place, register via www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/events.

For further information on SkillBuild 2024, see www.goconstruct.org/skillbuild.