Nottingham students build their way to victory at Guild of Bricklayers heat
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 24 May 2025
UPDATED: 27 May 2025
As the region’s leading provider of construction training, Nottingham College’s Basford campus was proud to host the prestigious Guild of Bricklayers competition on 12th May at its newly opened £6m Construction Skills Centre.
Beating off fierce competition from colleges across the Midlands was Nottingham College students Georga Goodwin, who took home first place in the Junior Female category and is now through to the national finals, and Harry Friel who was awarded third place in the Senior Male category.
Rob Moore, Nottingham College Head of Faculty for Construction, said:
“It was an honour to host the 49th regional heat of the Guild of Bricklayers competition in our new Construction Skills Centre. With space for 140 bricklaying bays, our state-of-the-art workshop provided the perfect setting for these talented young bricklayers to demonstrate their craft.
“It was inspiring to witness such skill, focus, and determination on display. Congratulations to all the winners and runners-up - their hard work truly stood out in a fiercely competitive field.”
As part of the competition, each participant was given a new design to replicate – one they’ve never seen before. With just under eight hours to complete the build, students were tested on both their skill and endurance.
A panel of expert judges from the Guild of Bricklayers assessed each build based on accuracy, levelness, and structural integrity, before selecting the winners.
The competition saw some impressive craftsmanship this year, and the judges had a tough time choosing the winners, but the following winners were announced on the day:
Junior Female
1st Place: Georga Goodwin (Nottingham College)
2nd Place: Phoebe Powell (North Notts College)
Senior Female
1st Place: Bella Bogg (Lincoln College)
Junior Male
1st Place: Brandon Skinner (Lincoln College)
2nd Place: Callum Jevis (Derby College)
3rd Place: Freddie Fowler (North Notts College)
Senior Male
1st Place: Corry Richardson (North Notts College)
2nd Place: Kristian Mikska (Lincoln College)
3rd Place: Harry Friel (Nottingham College)
More about the Guild of Bricklayers
The Guild of Bricklayers has been supporting bricklayers and apprentices since 1932. It brings together bricklayers, trainees, tutors, and employers to uphold the standards of bricklaying and encourage skill development. The Guild organises competitions, training events, and site visits, all aimed at helping individuals improve their craft.
