Trainee is best in the North-East (From The Northern Echo)

Trainee is best in the North-East

8:29am Friday 10th July 2009 in

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A TRAINEE carpenter has been named the best in the North-East.

Simon Watson, an apprentice with Frank Haslam Milan, won the carpentry gold medal in the regional heat of SkillBuild, the country’s biggest construction skills competition.

The New College Durham student triumphed at Newcastle College.

He said: “It feels really good to have won the regional competition.

I placed third last year so I’m really pleased that I’ve improved.

“I am looking forward to going to the national final where I’m going to give it my all.”

There were also contests for bricklayers, joiners, painters and decorators.

Russell Buckley, Construction Skills apprenticeship manager for the North-East, said: “We are really pleased with the high quality and standard of workmanship by these people – it is testament to their hard work and that of their colleges and employers.”

The national finals will be held in South Lanarkshire College, Scotland, in October.