The Bath Skills Show is continuing its campaign to highlight many of the fantastic career and learning opportunities available in the city.

Culminating in a free exhibition at the Bath Pavilion on November 15, the show is taking a look at success stories from all different sectors and providers, proving that anyone can progress up the career ladder or learn something new whatever your background, age or current qualifications.

While learning a new skill is rarely about winning competitions, showcasing your talents and receiving acclaim for it can be an added bonus.

For two students from Bath College, a regional competition win means they are have been picked for The SkillBuild 2017 UK National Final.

Oliver Takhar with painting and decorating lecturer Graham Walmsley
Oliver Takhar with painting and decorating lecturer Graham Walmsley

SkillBuild, run by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), is the largest multi-trade competition in the UK for construction trainees and apprentices.

Beginning with regional heats, competitors can progress to a national level, then a European level and even a global level in their chosen trade. These include stonemasonry, plastering, joinery and carpentry among others.

As each level progresses, competitors are tested on their technical abilities, time management, character and commitment.

Bath College’s Oliver Takhar and Joshua Underwood were among the highest scoring competitors in this year’s SkillBuild regional qualifiers.

They are now busy preparing for the demanding three-day final, which takes place at the NEC in Birmingham in November.

Painting and decorating student Oliver will compete against seven others to win The Crown Trade Apprentice Decorator of the Year competition.

He scored 79.5 out of 100 in the regional qualifiers, using paint, wallpaper and stencils to accurately follow a detailed plan drawing.

Oliver, 19, from Frome, said: “When I found out I was through to the finals it felt really good, because I wasn’t expecting it. I’m just excited about competing and this competition will be over a couple of days, so it’s much bigger than the regional qualifiers.

“I’m pleased I entered, I wouldn’t have done it without encouragement from the college. I’m going to practice everything that could come up.

“When I left school, I spent two years training to become a mechanic, and then I changed track completely. Now I’ve found something that I can do and I’m enjoying.”

Stonemasonry student Joshua Underwood is competing at the SkillBuild 2017 UK National Final after coming second in the final of the UK Masonry Skills Challenge, run by The Stone Federation.

He took part in the challenge alongside Bath College students Shaun Forbes and Daniel Owen, with the team winning first prize for the best college when their scores were added together.

Joshua, an apprentice with Architectural Stone in Cardiff, said: “When I first started competing I was nervous, but now I know how the competitions work and what the judging is like.

“The competition environment can be quite distracting. They encourage you to work so that the spectators can see what you’re doing, but I make sure I’m concentrating on the work in front of me.

“It’s good to have this experience on your CV. I enjoy speaking to the competition qualifiers and getting an insight into the industry nationally.”

If Oliver and Joshua are successful in the finals, they could have the chance to represent the UK abroad as part of the WorkSkills UK squad.

Last December, former Bath College student and stonemason Toby Brook was part of the UK team at EuroSkills 2016 – the largest skills competition in Europe.

Painting and decorating lecturer Graham Walmsley said: “I think it’s important that students are challenged at every opportunity to produce the highest possible work they can.

“The judges assessed each entrants’ work to a strict marking criteria which would have doubtless included how neatly they approached the tasks over the five-hour time limit.

“It’s going to be a tough three-day final against students who have been studying for longer than Ollie, but I have put together additional training sessions to help him develop.

“He has a very calm disposition and rarely gets flustered when working. Good results are seldom achieved when decorating is carried out in haste, something which he’s fully aware of.”

Stonemasonry lecturer Ray Sumner said: “Joshua’s dedication has led to him being recognised as one of the best apprentice stonemasons in the country.

“Joshua achieved one of the highest marks in the country when he competed in the regional qualifiers. The judges recognised his ability to interpret drawings, to execute the task in time and complete the job to a very high standard.

“He has the motivation to achieve the best possible standards and is improving all the time. He’s a testament to teaching and learning at Bath College, and he joins a long list of accomplished stonemasons who have trained here. We wish him all the best for the finals.”

Gina, a civil enforcement officer with Bath & North East Somerset Council
Gina, a civil enforcement officer with Bath & North East Somerset Council

Bath & North East Somerset Council is one of the largest employers in the district, providing a wide range of services.

The council works with residents and communities to offer functional services, such as keeping the street lights on and collecting the bins; as well as support services which care for vulnerable residents and developing new projects like revitalising rivers and the redevelopment of the Bath Quays area.

Because of its vast amount of services - which also includes its back office departments i.e HR, procurement and finance - B&NES’ workforce has many different skills.

The council’s employees boast a whole range of qualifications and work experience which gives them the skills they need to provide a public service.

Some qualifications are specialist and suit specific roles like social work, accountancy, building control and engineering.

Some roles don’t require any specific qualifications, such as cleansing operatives and civil enforcement officers, but they demand a positive, open attitude with a strong customer service focus.

All of its employees are crucial to delivering services to residents, businesses and visitors.

Gina has been a civil enforcement officer with Bath & North East Somerset Council for eight years.

She recognises that she is good with the public and is able to build a rapport with people quickly; core skills for a high-profile role acting as “ambassador” for the council. She particularly enjoys being outdoors and active at work.

Many B&NES employees work directly with residents and businesses. They need to be skilled listeners, be able to assimilate information and use analytical skills to provide a high quality of service.

As no day is ever the same, problem solving and resilience are high on the list of requirements.

Many office-based staff rely on working as part of a team, often with colleagues from different departments, so similar communication and cooperative skills are required.

Cleo Newcombe-Jones, River Avon project coordinator, works for the council in a job funded by the award-winning Water Space Partnership (B&NES Council, Wessex Water, Environment Agency and the Canal & River Trust).

Cleo has developed her career while working for Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Starting with a degree in geography from London School of Economics and a masters in town planning, Cleo completed a postgraduate qualification in urban design, while being seconded to work part-time. This led to her recent job, leading on the Water Space project.

Cleo has also had opportunities to develop her skills with other organisations, thanks to her work with the council. She lectures at Bath Spa University, and takes part in design critiques on the Oxford Brookes Urban Design MA. She also blogs for The GlassHouse Community Led Design and other agencies.

There are many opportunities to develop your career with Bath & North East Somerset Council. For more information visit www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/jobs