Two bricklaying apprentices who trained with City of Bristol College recently took part in this year’s Guild of Bricklayer’s competition, achieving outstanding results that highlight their growing talent and commitment to the craft.
Ellie Bush, a Level 3 apprentice, achieved first place in the senior competition, an impressive accomplishment that recognises her precision, skill and consistency under pressure. Molly Sirl, a Level 2 apprentice, also delivered a strong performance and was commended by judges for the accuracy and finish of her brickwork. Both Ellie and Molly are students of On Site Bristol, a specialist provider of apprenticeship training to the construction industry.
The Guild of Bricklayer’s competition is the UK’s largest multi-trade competition for construction apprentices and trainees, bringing together learners from around 15 colleges in regional heats. Competitors are assessed on precision, speed and overall quality of workmanship, with the highest performers progressing to national finals and, in some cases, international competitions.
For Ellie, who was inspired to pursue bricklaying by her father’s work in the trade, SkillBuild marked another significant step forward in her training. Having competed previously, she demonstrated increased confidence and technical ability throughout this year’s competition, reflecting the progress she has made throughout her apprenticeship.
“I’ve really pushed myself,” Ellie said. “I’m taking on more complex tasks now, like setting out drawings for walls and layouts, and I feel much more confident working with different people on site.”
Following her success at Guild of Bricklayer’s competition, Ellie is now looking ahead to completing her apprenticeship and progressing into self-employment, with longer-term ambitions to step into site management or surveying.
Molly, who discovered bricklaying through TikTok before beginning her apprenticeship, was recognised for the quality of her work throughout the competition.
Reflecting on her apprenticeship so far, she said: “I’m most proud of how much my working speed has increased, while still keeping a high standard and attention to detail in my brickwork.”
Speaking about being one of the few women working on site, Molly admits it felt daunting at first, but that quickly changed. “Everyone was really welcoming and supportive, and I’ve never been treated any differently. So, to any other women considering it – I’d say go for it.”
With just two months left of her apprenticeship, Molly is now preparing to move into full-time employment, with aspirations to continue developing her skills and eventually progress into a supervisory or management role.
For both apprentices, SkillBuild provided a valuable opportunity to test their abilities in a high-pressure environment and measure their progress against others from across the country. Their success reflects their hard work and dedication throughout their apprenticeships while attending City of Bristol College.
For more information about apprenticeships at City of Bristol College, simply click here.
