BUILDING workers of the future were put to the test in a competition.

Students at the £3.6 million engineering and construction centre at Riverside College were challenged to demonstrate the skills they have learnt.

Trainees in brickwork, carpentry, joinery, painting and decorating, plumbing and electrical installation spent a day completing the task.

Their efforts were then judged by professionals.

Darren Moore, deputy head of construction at the College, said: “We have been running our internal competition for six years and always aim to improve from the previous year’s efforts. This year’s event has been by far our best.

“Each trade area had a great deal of difficulty in judging their competition as the standard of work the students produced was so high which is a credit to all the teaching staff.

“The support from our sponsors has been amazing and is very much appreciated by all our staff and students.

The winners will now represent the college at the regional skillbuild competition in Stockport.

Timber and builders merchant Travis Perkins sponsored the brickwork, painting and decorating, and joinery competition areas for the second year running.

Widnes branch manager David Harari watched students at work and presented the prizes.

He said: “It’s great to support the college and to be involved in such a fantastic event.”

Widnes Electrical Supplies Ltd sponsored the electrical installation competition and donated prizes.

Plumbase supplied t-shirts for the plumbing competitors and donated prizes and a winner’s shield.

Howdens Joinery provided prizes for students in the carpentry and joinery category.

The winners were Ellis Mckeown, 17, from Widnes (brickwork), Daniel Brennan, 25, from Runcorn (carpentry and joinery), Suzy Baines, 35, from Runcorn (painting and decorating), Stephen Chapman, 34, from Prescot (electrical installation), Jake Price, 17, from Runcorn (plumbing).