Hobson & Porter, Innovation based on tradition

A young bricklayer from East Yorkshire is preparing for a prestigious international bricklaying competition.

Adam Metcalf, 21 of Patrington, near Withernsea, has been selected to be part of the UK training squad of 30 skilled bricklayers. He is in training to take on the very best young bricklayers in the world at WorldSkills 2009 in Calgary, Canada, in September next year. The young brickie was selected for the UK squad after a tough three day selection competition at Acton and West College in London. If he is successful his place in the team, and that of the other youngsters chosen for the squad, will be confirmed by UK Skills in June this year.

WorldSkills is an international competition held every two years where 51 member countries meet to compete in more than 40 different vocational skills. Adam, who is employed by Hobson & Porter, of Hull, said: "I'm already proud of what I've achieved. Just getting in to the squad means I have proved I am good at what I do. I enjoy my profession and want to be the best I can be. Now it is important that I train hard to make sure I keep improving my skills".

More than 200,000 spectators are expected to attend four days of intense competition in Canada from September 2nd to 5th this year.

Simon Bartley, UK Skills chief executive said "Adam has certainly earned the right to be in Squad UK, but the hard work has not finished yet. The squad will be enduring tough training regimes for months to come to make sure they are world class before they are finally selected for the team heading to Calgary".

Hobson & Porter's Managing Director Dave Watson said: Obviously we are thrilled that Adam has got this far. We have continued to support him in his efforts to make it to Calgary, and it would be fantastic if he makes the final squad. Adam's achievements are testament to the value of investing in training, and at a time when there is significant investment in capital projects planned in the region, it helps to raise the profile of construction as a career path".

Article reproduced in part with kind permission of the Hull Daily Mail

For more information on WordSkills 2009 visit the website at www.worldskills.org