Odhran Connelly from Southern Regional College in Northern Ireland was victorious at the SkillBuild 2018 National Finals in Wall and Floor Tiling.

Competitors fixed the tiles with BAL Max Flex Fibre and BAL Rapid-Flex One and grouted with BAL Micromax2 Snow including BAL Micromax Sealant for all movement joints.

Odhran was up against silver medallist James Ackland (Cardiff and Vale College), bronze medallist Mariusz Kanjecki (City of Glasgow College),
Callum Pearson (Highly Commended from Leeds College of Building) and four other competitors.

The finals of the national construction competition for apprentices and trainees took place at the NEC from 15 – 17 November as part of the WorldSkills UK Live exhibition.

Throughout the three-day, 18-hour competition, contestants were asked to tile a wall and floor based on a 3D building design and 150mm x 150mm ceramic tiles.

Dave Rowley, BAL training manager and lead judge for SkillBuild 2018 said: ““As a company we are committed to training the next generation of tilers to a high standard, so supporting the SkillBuild competition is a priority of ours. Competitions like these help raise standards and give trainees and apprentices a focus and standard to work towards.”