March apprentice wins bricklaying competition
Talented young bricklayer Dan Goddard has beaten all comers in a prestigious industry competition – taking first place in the Guild of Bricklayers contest. - Credit: Archant
TALENTED young bricklayer Dan Goddard has beaten all comers in a prestigious industry competition, taking first place in the Guild of Bricklayers contest.
The 18 year-old Cambridge Regional College student, who is an apprentice at Baker and Watkins bricklayers in March, impressed the judges with his careful attention to detail and accuracy in planning, setting up and building a piece of decorative brickwork.
Dan, who is in the second year of his apprenticeship, said the combination of working as a bricklayer and attending college one day a week had given him the skills to win the competition.
“I love bricklaying. I did a construction course at school and I was hooked,” he said. “It is great to be an apprentice - it gets you into work and construction, and is the best way to learn.”
It is the second time an apprentice from the March firm has won a construction competition – last year, CRC apprentice Ben Drage came first in the senior bricklaying competition at SkillBuild, Britain’s biggest skills competition.
Dan’s boss, Kevin Watkins, said he was delighted at his success in the competition.
“It’s excellent news and I’m really pleased with Dan. It shows we are all doing our bit well to teach him the trade,” he said.
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Dan is the eighth apprentice taken on by Baker and Watkins – six of whom have gone on to advanced apprenticeships.
“Within the building industry everyone is getting older, and young apprentices can bring a whole new life and enthusiasm to the trade,” said Kevin. “We train them the way we want them and they are fantastic.”
Cambridge Regional College lecturer Neil Hesketh said: “Dan has developed into an excellent bricklayer with good knowledge to go with some very good practical skills.”
