This year we are proud to once again be supporting the Young Builder of the Year Awards organised by Youthbuild UK. The awards will be presented on 16th October at the Houses of Parliament and prizes are provided by Toolstation, with winners receiving much needed quality tools to kickstart their careers.

The awards highlight the hard work and dedication of young builders and other trade sector workers who have overcome significant barriers and gone on to secure employment within the construction industry.

Past winners have come from a variety of backgrounds; full time carers for parents, refugees who risked their lives traveling from war torn countries and people who have been directly affected by drug and alcohol abuse are just a few examples.

It’s not just about overcoming barriers and adversity however; what the candidates do during their time on site and in training organisations also counts. Attendance, undertaking accredited training in construction, further training or education and securing a job within the profession are all taken into consideration and form part of the judging criteria.

Toolstation’s marketing director John Meaden is one of the judges for this year’s awards and said "We’re very pleased to be the prize sponsor for Youthbuild UK’s Young Builder of the Year Awards that rewards young people for their hard work and dedication working in the construction industry. Through our partnership with Youthbuild UK we can give our support to their work nationally and locally, helping young people learning construction skills and developing careers which directly contributes to the growth and success of the UK trade sector."

Throughout the year, Youthbuild UK engage with organisations and employers at national, regional and local levels to offer opportunities to young people who are at risk of social exclusion. Their activities and initiatives help to empower young people and develop their employability in the construction industry. The awards are just one way that the charity rewards the hard work of the people they support.

You can find out more about the Youthbuild UK’s work here.