Posted: December 18, 2025
An apprentice joinery student from North Lindsey College has been crowned a national winner at the SkillBuild National Final 2025, the UK’s leading construction skills competition, delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
The national final took place at MK Arena in Milton Keynes from 19–21 November, bringing together 80 of the UK’s most talented construction trainees. Competitors represented 10 construction trades and earned their place at the final after more than 1,000 students competed in regional qualifiers held at colleges across the country earlier this year.
Henry Duck (Apprentice Joinery student) was named the 2025 Joinery winner following three days of intense competition. Finalists were challenged to complete a complex project within 18 hours, with an expert panel of judges assessing performance across a range of criteria including technical ability, time management, problem-solving, working under pressure, and adherence to health and safety standards.
Speaking about his achievement, Henry said: “It’s a fairly big achievement, I surprised myself to be honest, I didn’t think I would win. The task was quite tricky, but it was a great experience, and I feel like I’ve learnt a lot from it.”
SkillBuild plays a vital role in highlighting the breadth of career opportunities available within the construction industry. With government figures showing that 946,000 young people aged 16–24 are currently not in education, employment or training, competitions like SkillBuild demonstrate clear pathways into skilled and rewarding careers.
Neil Frow (Carpentry and Joinery Lecturer at North Lindsey College) said: “As Henry’s tutor, I’m incredibly proud of what he’s achieved in winning a national competition. It’s a huge achievement for him and the college, and one that’s fully deserved.
“During the competition, Henry handled the pressure really well. He stayed focused, worked safely, kept his area organised, and didn’t let the environment affect the quality of his work. That level of professionalism stood out and played a big part in his success. This win reflects Henry’s commitment, work ethic, and attitude towards his trade. He’s a credit to himself, his employer, and the training programme, and I’ve no doubt he’ll continue to do well in architectural joinery.”
Further underlining the demand for new talent, CITB’s Construction Workforce Outlook forecasts that the UK will require more than 47,000 additional construction workers each year by 2029, reinforcing the strong career prospects available to those entering the sector.