College boasts great medal haul at awards

STUDENTS from Accrington and Rossendale College’s construction department picked up no fewer than five medals at this year’s recent SkillBuild regional heats.

The competition, held at Furness College, sees the very best in construction talent compete against each other to be crowned the SkillBuild winner in their chosen trade.

Andrew Forshaw, 24, from Manchester, secured a gold medal for the college in the Senior Carpentry and Joinery Level 3 category – staving off competition from a very talented field.

Andrew, who is employed as an apprentice at Retail Outlet Design Limited in Blackburn, said: “It feels great to win a gold medal in your chosen craft and it shows that hard work pays off.

“I want to thank my tutors and my employer for all the help, guidance and support they have shown me over the course of my apprenticeship.”

Other medallists for the college included:

l (Listed are name, medal, employer and category)

Ryan Oliver: Silver; Tony Smith Joinery, Rossendale; C&J L2 New Entrant. Thomas Coupe: Bronze; James Ashworths timber merchant and joinery; C&J L2 New Entrant. Saj Hussain: Silver; N/A; Brickwork L3 Senior. Thomas Belcher: Bronze; Ant Plant Construction Ltd; Brickwork L3 Senior.

Mark Taylor, tutor and head of joinery at Accrington and Rossendale College, said: “We are extremely proud of all our learners who competed in this year’s regional SkillBuild heats.

“All of our learners have demonstrated a high level of professionalism and quality in their craft and certainly made the college proud.

“We would like to thank all the employers who have supported the apprentices and college staff, who have contributed to this success.” l● Andrew Forshaw accepts his award and, inset left, working on a project