BRADFORD College Level 2 Joinery Apprentice, Ahmed Shakir is set to compete at the prestigious SkillBuild National Final later this month.
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.
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 two years. Eager to further develop his skills, he 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 in July at York College, where he competed against other top apprentices from across the region. Ahmed was placed second, and with one of the highest scores in his category, secured a spot in the National Final.
Reflecting on his achievement, Ahmed said, “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 proud legacy of excellence in apprenticeship training, designed to equip students with practical skills and connect them with industry leaders like 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.
The SkillBuild National Final will take place from November 18-21 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.
* Find out more about Bradford College Apprenticeships by booking your place at our next Open Day on Saturday, November 23, from (10am to 1pm. Visit bradfordcollege.ac.uk
The trip and project were designed to provide students with the ultimate athlete experience of a three-day tournament featuring six guaranteed matches, as well as healthy breakfasts, gym sessions, conditioning and recovery time.
This hands-on approach offered valuable insight to students on competing in sport at a high level.
As well as the cricket, students were able to explore the rich culture and history of Granada.
This included visits to historical sites, such as the Alhambra and Sacromonte, as well as mosques, cathedrals, churches and various museums. There was even a chance to visit the city’s university and see the potential opportunities awaiting students.
While cricket is an established sport in the UK, it’s still growing in Spain, with new teams and grounds rapidly emerging. The Granada Sixes tournament brings together teams from around the globe, showcasing a wealth of talent and, true to its name, lots of sixes!
BRADFORD College recently announced an extension to its partnership with Bradford City AFC for the fourth consecutive year.
The extension sees the College remain as one of City’s main partners, as well as being their official digital partner.
Bradford College branding will continue to feature on the Bantams’ digital output, through both imagery and video content, as well as various signage around the University of Bradford Stadium.
A key driving force behind the flourishing partnership, Nicky Betteridge (Team Leader, Apprenticeships & Business Development), said: “This partnership opens doors for Bradford College students, providing opportunities to gain valuable work experience within the sport, digital, and hospitality industries. It also gives a platform to share key messages with local employers and promote any upcoming training opportunities available to the wider community.
Bradford City’s Chief Commercial Officer, Davide Longo, added: “The College has been brilliant with the club since coming on board in 2020 and the contribution to our kit launches this summer was vital in ensuring the highest quality product was delivered. We look forward to collaborating again over the next 12 months and hopefully beyond!”
BRADFORD College’s Ambition [HUB] and ESOL provisions have made it onto the Commended Colleges shortlist in the highly sought-after Beacon Awards 2024/2025.
Run by the Association of Colleges (AoC), the Beacon Awards celebrate exemplary practice in Further Education.
Bradford College’s Ambition [HUB] made it to the AoC Beacon Standard and Commended Status in ‘The Edge Award for Excellence in Real World Learning’ category. The award is given to an FE college for its outstanding work with employers in delivering teaching and learning that is embedded in the real world.
The College also reached the AoC Beacon Standard and Commended Status in ‘The Bell Foundation Award for Excellence in ESOL’ category, alongside seven other colleges. ESOL provision has been developed at Bradford College in partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company, with learning and development structured around Shakespeare’s works. Around 235 learners engaging with the project last year.
Successful colleges will be visited between December and January 2025, before winners are announced at a special AoC celebration event on March 3, 2025.
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