Monday 10 October 2022
Students from our Furniture Making department are to compete in the SkillBuild 2022 finals, which take place in Edinburgh next month.
Josh Fox and Ciaran Baggott will represent the college in the Furniture and Cabinet Making category, while Stephanie Reilly has been selected as reserve. The students will go up against four others for the title and the chance to represent Great Britain on the international stage.
Described as the UK’s ‘construction Olympics’, SkillBuild is delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) in conjunction with WorldSkills and will take place at Edinburgh College from 14th-17th November 2022. Other skills being showcased at the event include plumbing, carpentry, and plastering.
Josh studied Level 2 Wood Machining and Furniture Making by Hand at Moulton College and is now working at bespoke furniture maker Art of Wood in Northampton. His teammate Ciaran, who studied Level 2, has returned to the college to work as a course technician in the build-up to the final. Stephanie meanwhile will combine studying for her Level 3 with a role at Bedfordshire-based business, Matthew Hill Bespoke, which is run by another Moulton College Furniture Studies alumnus.
Adam Palmer, Lecturer in Furniture Studies at Moulton College, says: “The final will see competitors tasked with building a piece of timber furniture from a technical drawing using a range of hand tools and woodworking machinery. We’re so proud of Josh, Ciaran and Stephanie and what they have already achieved. They are all extremely talented and we wish them every success at the competition and beyond.”
Adam adds: “Furniture and cabinet making is a specialist craft and it’s a terrific course to get stuck into, whether you’re a school leaver or a mature student. We offer both Level 2 and Level 3 Furniture Making at the college and have a host of fantastic facilities to make use of, including three dedicated workshops.”
Jonathan Chivers, CITB Director of Product Management, adds: “The SkillBuild finals are a really exciting stage in the competition, as we get to see the best talent go head-to-head and show us their skills. From furniture and cabinet making to carpentry and painting and decorating, right through to roof slating and tiling, these trainees are showcasing the very best of construction technical education, which can act to inspire many other young people.
“The competition is without a doubt a challenging experience, but CITB is hugely proud of everyone that participates and wishes them all the very best of luck at the final in Edinburgh.”
Another former Moulton College Furniture Making student, James Boyce, will represent Great Britain at the 2022 WorldSkills competition. The event takes place this week (11th-14th October 2022) in Basel, Switzerland.
