A carpenter in Suffolk has been named among the best apprentices in the UK, after impressing judges at a national trade competition. George Page, carpentry apprentice at SEH French, competed at the national SkillBuild 2023 finals in Milton Keynes between November 21-23. The 20-year-old from Ipswich, who attends Suffolk New College as part of his course, came third place in the carpentry category.

George said: “The competition showed how much talent there is in the trade, so to be awarded third place is a huge accomplishment. “Everyone involved in the competition has done an incredible job and I was really proud to be among the skilled people there. “I’d like to thank SEH French and Suffolk New College for everything they have taught me.”

George impressed judges by constructing a hand-cut roof with rafters and an attic-style door over the three-day competition, bringing together the UK’s best apprentices across various trades.

He qualified for the national final of SkillBuild 2023 after being named the best carpentry apprentice in Suffolk during the regional leg in May. Simon Girling, Director of SEH French, said: “The entire team are immensely proud of George for not only his success in the competition, but the skill and great attitude he displays at SEH French. “He is an exceptionally skilled carpenter and a great asset to our team. Since beginning his apprenticeship, he has shown real professionalism and skill. “Competitions like SkillBuild show the breadth of talent joining the industry and the importance of apprenticeships in building skilled tradespeople.”

SkillBuild is delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and is the largest multi-trade skills competition in the UK.

SEH French is a construction company based in Ipswich and operates across East Anglia, delivering projects across various sectors.

To find out more, visit www.sehfrench.co.uk.