TALENTED bricklayers from across the region put their skills to the test at York College.

The region’s National Guild of Bricklayers competition was held at York College’s new construction and skills centre and the college three homegrown York College apprentices were awarded first place in each category of the competition.

The competition involved bricklaying students from several regional colleges competing for a place in the national final of the competition to be held in Devon on June 29.

The Guild of Bricklayers competition promotes and maintains the highest standards of craftsmanship in brickwork and has three categories: New Entrant, Junior and Senior levels.

York College had four Level 2, CITB bricklaying apprentices competing across the categories, two of which were brothers Alex and Charlie Young: The winners this year in the three categories were: • New Entrant Alex Young , 22, from Knottingley, employed by IR Young & Sons – Awarded 1st place Conor Calam, 16, formerly of Archbishop Holgate’s CE School, employed by AM Builders • Junior Lewis Greenwood, 18, formerly of Tadcaster Grammar School, employed by PDS Construction – Awarded 1st place • Senior Charles Young , 20, from Knottingley, employed by IR Young & Sons – Awarded 1st place The event also included a range of trade stands and demonstrations/talks by local construction companies including sScrewfix, Bosch, York Handmade Bricks, SAS Render, Elcocks, Wiha, Spear & Jackson, Get Branded (PPE), Dewalt/Stanley and Footprint.

College principal Alison Birkinshaw said: “Competitions may be stressful, but they are also a great way to showcase talent of those training our bricklayers to build for the future and those in the competition themselves. The skills associated with construction, whether traditional or technical, are crucial to the economic health of the country but even more importantly we rely on well-trained and skilled individuals to ensure that our physical infrastructure is safe and fit for purpose.”