Ayrshire’s own heads to Milton Keynes to battle for Britain’s best young bricklayer title

Persimmon Homes apprentice Chantelle Muir set to compete in SkillBuild National Final 2025 next week

Persimmon Homes apprentice Chantelle Muir has qualified for the SkillBuild National Final 2025, the UK’s largest and most prestigious construction skills competition, and will compete next week for the title of Britain’s best young bricklayer.

Chantelle, a bricklaying apprentice from Ayrshire, earned her place after impressing judges at the Scottish regional qualifier held at Dundee and Angus College in June. She will now face the UK’s top apprentices at the national final on 19–20 November at Arena MK in Milton Keynes, showcasing her precision, technical ability, and professionalism.

Notably, Chantelle is the only female competitor in the bricklaying final, underlining her trailblazing progress in a traditionally male-dominated trade. Should she win, Chantelle will go on to represent the UK at the WorldSkills competition, competing against the very best young tradespeople from around the globe.

Chantelle said:

“It means a lot to reach the final, especially as the only woman in the bricklaying competition. I’ve worked really hard and had fantastic support from Persimmon and college.

“I want to show that if you’ve got the talent and determination, there’s a place for you in construction—whoever you are. I’m excited to represent Persimmon and Ayrshire College on the national stage and can’t wait for next week’s challenge.”

SkillBuild, delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), is often described as the ‘skills Olympics’ for construction. The 2025 competition saw over 1,000 entrants across 10 trades, with only the top scorers from 16 regional qualifiers progressing to the national final.

Chantelle’s success highlights both her outstanding individual talent and the strength of Persimmon Homes’ apprenticeship programme. She began her apprenticeship in 2023, combining on-site experience with her studies at Ayrshire College, as part of Persimmon’s commitment to developing Scotland’s next generation of skilled tradespeople.

William Smith, Senior Regional Apprenticeship Manager at Persimmon Homes, said:

“Chantelle is a truly exceptional apprentice and reaching the national final is a fantastic achievement. Her dedication, skill, and professionalism make her a great role model for all apprentices. We wish her every success next week and are excited to see her potentially represent the UK at WorldSkills.”

For more information on apprenticeship opportunities with Persimmon, visit: www.persimmonhomes.com.