Construction firms have been invited to find out if their apprentices are plasterminds or trowelblazers at SkillBuild - Britain's biggest skills competition to find the best young builders across a range of construction trades.

SkillBuild regional competition dates are now available and entries are open, so firms of all sizes are being encouraged to put forward their trainees to demonstrate their skills and talent.

Paddy Maguire from Southern Region College in Newry, Co Down, attended the 2008 final to support painting and decorating finalist Ronan Connell.

He said: "As well as being good for the student, it's good for the college - we get more students as a result of them seeing our successful students in the papers."

This year, despite the downturn in the industry and wider economy, training has never been more important, as firms need the skills to compete for the work currently available and to respond to an upturn when it happens.

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Entering SkillBuild enables firms to demonstrate the quality of their staff and helps apprentices to develop their skills - and it's free to enter.

Martyn Price, Chairman of SkillBuild and Managaing Director of CMC Ltd, started out as an apprentice himself and now employs around 25 apprentices.

He said: "I believe that industry skills competitions such as SkillBuild help encourage excellence and develop talent. They also allow employers and colleges to demonstrate their commitment to quality training, ensuring a highly skilled workforce for the future."

The 2008 national bricklaying winner Jason Stanley, who attends Derby College, said: "I have entered before but it's the first time I got through to the national competition and it's great that I won. I think competing at this level really pushes you harder, to do your best."

SkillBuild kicks off with regional heats from April to July and ends in an intense national final in October.

The competition is managed by ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the industry. It forms part of Construction Showcase, which enables employers to promote their business and career opportunities to young people, replacing National Construction Week.

National winners could be selected for the 'skills olympics' - the international WorldSkills competition - which takes place this year in Calgary, Canada. In 2011 WorldSkills will be held in London. ConstructionSkills aims to build the profile and increase entries to the competition over the next two years, with the aim of having winning British competitors on the stage in London.

Visit www.cskills.org/skillbuild to find out more and download an entry form.

(GK/JM)