The UK's top construction apprentices and trainees will go head to head in Milton Keynes next week as the SkillBuild 2026 National Final returns on 18 and 19 November. Delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the competition is the largest and longest-running multi-trade skills contest in the country.

Around 700 students took part in 17 regional qualifiers held across the UK between March and June. The top eight scorers in each of ten trades have earned a place in the final at Arena MK, where they must complete a construction project within 18 hours.

Ten trades, one champion each

The ten trades are bricklaying, carpentry, drylining, furniture and cabinet making, joinery, painting and decorating, plastering, roof slating and tiling, stonemasonry, and wall and floor tiling. Expert judges will score competitors on technical ability, problem solving, time management, working under pressure and compliance with health and safety requirements, with one winner crowned in each trade.

Free to attend, with a careers showcase

The final is open to the public on Wednesday 18 November from 9am to 4pm and Thursday 19 November from 9am to 3pm. Entry is free, but visitors must book a ticket in advance. Alongside the competition, CITB's interactive Construction Showcase will run from 9am to 3pm on both days, letting visitors try hands-on construction activities, meet industry experts and explore routes into the trades. A SEND Learner Showcase will also celebrate diversity and inclusion in the industry.

The event comes as construction faces a major recruitment challenge: CITB's Construction Workforce Outlook forecasts the sector will need an average of 41,200 additional workers each year until 2030 to meet expected demand. The full list of finalists is published on the Go Construct website, with free spectator tickets available through Eventbrite.