Member Article

Talented duo carve out top place awards

Two carpentry apprentices from Leeds College of Building have been judged as the best in the country at an awards ceremony that celebrates the very highest standards of woodworking and carpentry.

Jordan Carling from Ryburn Valley Furniture and Benjamin Pick from Broadley Group, took second and third place at the National Finals of the Institute of Carpenters Competition, which took place in London, and saw more than 50 students from 25 colleges from across the UK compete.

Both had previously taken part in the regional finals alongside a third Leeds College of Building student, James Armstrong, who achieved third place in the bench joinery category.

Peter Lawson who is the shop fitting and bench joinery lecturer at Leeds College of Building says: “This competition builds on a long tradition of encouraging young people to develop their skills and craftsmanship. It’s highly competitive, and the only competition of its kind in the industry that gives talented students the chance to showcase their work and have it judged by leaders in their field.’’

“Jordan and Benjamin had to build a fielded panelled door hung in a frame, with three louvres at the top - something that is very complicated to do. Accuracy was the key to their success and both did extremely well, demonstrating excellent standards of workmanship. We were all delighted with their placings.”

Derek Whitehead, Deputy Principal and Executive Director of Curriculum and Quality at Leeds College of Building said: “These excellent results are fantastic news for the students, the timber trades team and College as a whole. Our students have taken part in this competition for more than ten years and always excel.”

Jordan and Benjamin are both Level 3 Apprentices on the Bench Joinery Course and have one more year of study at the College. Jordan says: “This is the only national competition of its kind and the judges were looking for people to go that extra mile and show them the very highest possible standards of workmanship. It was really rewarding that two of us from our College took second and third place, and we are both looking forward to taking part again next year.”

Both students from Leeds College of Building were presented with cheques for £250 at the awards ceremony which was held at the historic Carpenters Hall in London.

For more information about the College and its courses visit www.lcb.ac.uk or call 0113 222 6000.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emma Mortimer .