Waterfoot Carpenter Takes Silver Medal At North West Skillbuild

19-year-old  Carpentry & Joinery students Peter Kernan added to Accrington & Rossendale College’s medal haul when he claimed second place in the North West Regional Skillbuild competitions held at Blackpool and the Fylde College.

Peter said, “I’d competed once before and hadn’t won anything, but I did get a lot of experience and confidence from it.  I was up against 20 or so other construction students, but I felt good and finished in plenty of time and it felt really good to win the silver medal.

”Peter, alongside his fellow competitors, was set the task of making a house-shaped frame and had six hours to complete the project.

Carpentry & Joinery tutor Mick Booth said, “Peter started college with the school links programme and soon displayed a natural talent for the trade.  He progressed on to the Construction award at Accrington & Rossendale College achieving outstanding grades in each year and he now has a very good understanding of the subject and often helps his peers in class.

”This isn’t the first honour Peter has claimed and last year he won the National and Regional Institute of Carpenters craft competition and received a prestigious award and substantial cheque at a presentation in the Carpenters Hall in London.

Not surprisingly, Peter has big plans to go with his big talent and he recently applied for the Prince's Foundation craft apprenticeship where he was successful and will be studying and working alongside master craftsmen and working on historic building such as Windsor castle.  On completion he will achieve a level 3 in heritage work awarded by Prince Charles.