Leeds College of Building Hosts First Checkatrade Games

Celebrating Skilled Trades Through Competitive Challenges

Leeds College of Building’s South Bank Campus recently hosted the inaugural Checkatrade Games, a new series of competitive events aimed at showcasing craftsmanship and encouraging young people to pursue careers in skilled trades. The event brought together students, industry professionals, and community partners for a day of practical challenges and discussions.

Event Overview

The Checkatrade Games featured a variety of timed trade challenges in electrical work, plumbing, and painting and decorating. Participants were tasked with completing specific projects accurately and within a set time frame, guided by blueprints provided during the competition. The event was hosted and commentated on by trade content creators Jamie and Paul from ‘Bricking It’.

Over £2,000 in prize money was awarded to winners across the different trade categories, with first place receiving £750, second place £500, and third place £300. The competition was judged by industry experts from Bell, City & Guilds, and Home & Garden Electronics.

Community and Industry Engagement

Alongside the competitive events, the venue included networking opportunities with industry partners and a panel discussion organised by Leeds Rhinos. The discussion focused on the role of sport and education in addressing the issue of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET) in Leeds.

Participants in the panel included Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Jamie Jones-Buchanan MBE, Community Clubs Development Officer Sam Horner, Leeds Rhinos legend Danny McGuire, and Leeds College of Building Assistant Principal Steve Connell.

Notable Achievements

• Fawzi Mohamed, a first-year Plumbing and Electrical student, won first prize in the electrical category. This was his first trade competition.
• Fawzi expressed that the prize money would assist him in purchasing tools and saving for a car, highlighting the practical benefits of the event for participants.

Event Supporters

The Checkatrade Games were supported by a range of sponsors and partners, including:

• Checkatrade
• Leeds College of Building
• Leeds Rhinos
• Wickes
• Tide
• Howdens
• Toolstation
• Band of Builders
• CITB
• Employment and Skills Leeds
• TradeMore

The event marks an effort to promote skilled trades and provide practical experience and recognition for students pursuing careers in these areas. The college and partners aim to continue the Checkatrade Games in future years to further support and inspire the next generation of tradespeople.