The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has announced that the SkillBuild National Final for 2026 will begin on Wednesday 18 November in Milton Keynes. In a release sent on 9 November, CITB said finalists who came through the SkillBuild Regional Qualifiers will compete across two days in their chosen trades.
CITB describes SkillBuild as the largest and longest-running industry skills competition in the UK, and says it has become a flagship event for showcasing talent in the construction industry. The release also refers to it as the UK’s largest multi-trade skills competition, with new experiences added for the 2026 final.
01How the final works
Competitors in the final construct a project within 18 hours. A panel of expert judges will assess them on several characteristics, including working under pressure, technical ability, problem solving, time management, and compliance with health and safety requirements.
CITB has published the full list of national finalists, and tickets for the event are free. The organisation thanked the sponsors, supporters and strategic partners of the SkillBuild competitions, among them British Gypsum, Saint Gobain, TARMAC, Wienerberger, the Brick Development Association and The Tile Association.
02Showcases for visitors and learners
Alongside the main competition, CITB is running an interactive Construction Showcase, which it describes as a careers experience hub where visitors of all ages can try out real construction activities, talk to industry experts and discover pathways into the trades. According to the release, it is open from 9am-3pm on Wednesday 18 November and Thursday 19 November.
CITB is also delivering a SEND Learner Showcase, a non-competitive demonstration celebrating diversity and inclusivity within the construction industry. Taking place on Balcony 2 on Wednesday 18 November, it will feature learners from different colleges with a range of special educational needs and disabilities, demonstrating entry-level skills across a variety of trades.
03Workforce demand
CITB links the competition to the industry’s need to bring in new people. Its annual Construction Workforce Outlook (CWO) report, which forecasts future skills and workforce needs across UK construction, showed that UK construction will need an average of 41,200 extra construction workers per year until 2030 to meet the current demand. Those skilled trades underpin work across the housing sector, from new homes to the period projects discussed in our piece on the access challenges of renovating a Victorian terrace in London.
Robert Smith, Product Manager (Careers) at CITB, said: “We are really looking forward to welcoming this year’s finalists to Milton Keynes. Reaching the finals is a fantastic achievement and reflects all the hard work and dedication each competitor has shown throughout the competition stages.
“SkillBuild gives talented apprenticeships and trainees the opportunity to put their skills to the test, demonstrate what they can achieve and showcase the high standard of talent that is coming into the construction workforce.
“With the industry needing to attract and develop its future workforce, events like SkillBuild are an important opportunity to celebrate construction careers and inspire more people to see the range of opportunities the sector has to offer. I wish all our finalists the very best of luck.”
Details and image via CITB.
