Taunton student reaches national finals of SkillBuild 2012

A Taunton joinery student has reached the national finals of SkillBuild 2012.

Matt Baker, a bench joinery student at Somerset College, smashed the competition in the regional finals back in May and will be heading to Preston to compete in the national finals next week.

Matt will be competing against the cream of the UK's construction trainees at the three day competition next week (September 12 -14) which will see over 100 talented apprentices battle to be crowned best in their fields.

Joinery will be Matt's area of expertise. Other categories in the competition include carpentry, bricklaying and painting and decorating.

Matt is an apprentice at Ilminster firm, A & C Joinery, and attends Somerset College for Joinery lessons on a regular basis.

Rachel Davies, Principal of Somerset College said: "We're extremely proud of Matt and the success of our apprenticeship partnership with his employer. We wish him every success when he represents the South West at national SkillBuild 2012."

SkillBuild is staged by CITB-ConstructionSkills who aim to bring together and motivate promising construction trainees in the UK.

Gillian Cain, Southern Regional Manager of CITB-ConstructionSkills, said: "SkillBuild encourages excellence, helps to raise standards in training and is an exciting way to showcase the outstanding talent coming into the construction industry."