wienerberger champions the next generation through SkillBuild and Guild of Bricklayers competitions

At wienerberger, building for what’s next means investing in the people, skills and ideas that will shape the future of our industry. That future starts with the young apprentices and trainees who are learning their craft today—and who will construct the homes, communities and infrastructure of tomorrow. 

This year, we are proud to reaffirm our long-standing commitment to skills development by supporting two of the UK’s most respected construction competitions for industry newcomers: SkillBuild and the Guild of Bricklayers annual bricklaying challenge. 

Supporting SkillBuild 2026: Inspiring tomorrow’s construction professionals

We’re delighted to support both the bricklaying and roof tiling competitions at SkillBuild 2026, the UK’s biggest multi-trade construction event for apprentices and trainees.

Delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), SkillBuild plays a vital role in identifying and celebrating the next generation of construction talent. The Regional Qualifiers, running from March to June 2026, challenge competitors on precision, clean facework, time management and safety—all under realistic site conditions. Finalists will compete at the National Final later this year, cheered on by peers, families, and industry watchers.

As part of our sponsorship for this year’s bricklaying competition, wienerberger is proud to donate approximately 34,000 bricks. Additionally, we are supporting the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) in their sponsorship of the roof slating and tiling competition by contributing 11,000 roof tiles and accessories. These donations ensure that competitors have access to the top-quality materials they require to showcase their skills and meet the highest standards of excellence. 

Our involvement in SkillBuild reflects our commitment to working closely with education partners and industry bodies to nurture future expertise in bricklaying, roofing and wider construction disciplines.

Continuing a proud tradition with the Guild of Bricklayers

Since 1990, wienerberger has been a dedicated supporter of the Guild of Bricklayers annual competitions, which have championed excellence in brickwork since their founding in 1932.

This year, we are donating approximately 68,000 bricks from our Denton and Sandown factories for the regional heats and national final. These competitions highlight the UK’s most talented trainee bricklayers, challenging them across ten regional heats before culminating in the national final on 13 June 2026.

Judging is rigorous, focusing on level, plumb, alignment, joint profile, spacing, finish, cleanliness, and strict attention to detail—reinforcing the high standards that define professional bricklaying.  

Our decades‑long partnership with the Guild is an important part of how we help preserve craftsmanship while supporting the development of a skilled workforce for the future.

Building for what’s next: Our commitment to skills and innovation

Supporting SkillBuild, the Guild of Bricklayers, and the Super Trowel 2026 professional competition (which we are proud to sponsor for the third year) demonstrates our continued investment in young tradespeople and experienced professionals alike.

These competitions celebrate precision, creativity, dedication, and passion—the qualities that define great craft and great construction. By continuing to invest in the next generation, we’re helping ensure the industry remains strong, innovative, and ready to meet the challenges of the future. Because building for what’s next isn’t just about materials - it’s about people.

We can’t wait to see what this year’s competitors achieve.