Preston College Apprentices Triumph at National SkillBuild Final 2025

Preston College is celebrating exceptional success after two of its apprentices, Sam Durham and Ryan Holt of ABD Ceramics Ltd, secured places in the prestigious SkillBuild UK National Final; the largest and most respected construction skills competition in the country.

Representing Preston College, both Sam and Ryan stood out among the nation’s top emerging talent. Sam then went on to win first place in Wall and Floor Tiling, earning national recognition and demonstrating the exceptional calibre of training delivered at the College.

Zac Willkinson, Assistant Director of Construction at Preston College says: “With approximately 1,500 competitors taking part across the UK and only eight finalists selected per trade, reaching the final alone is a remarkable achievement for both of these apprentices. We are incredibly proud of Sam and Ryan’s achievements”.

ABD Ceramics Ltd, who currently employ 13 tilers and 2 apprentices across the North of England, praised Preston College for its outstanding support and high-quality delivery model.

Anthony Yates, Managing Director at ABD Ceramics says: “Our experience with Preston College has been exceptional. The training, structure, and support provided to our apprentices have been superb and we are proud to be a part of it. We are impressed by the attention given to each apprentice and Preston Colleges regular liaison with us as an employer.”

“Sam and Ryan’s achievements at SkillBuild highlight not only their own hard work, but the incredibly strong foundation Preston College provides. We’re so impressed with the partnership that we’re looking to take on two additional apprentices after Christmas as Sam and Ryan move into their EPA. Training the next generation of Tilers has always been an important part of our company ethos and over 60% or our fully qualified tilers started out as apprentices here with us.”

The College’s continued collaboration with employers like ABD Ceramics demonstrates its commitment to ensuring learners gain the technical skills, industry experience, and professional confidence needed to succeed at the highest levels.

Zac Wilkinson, Assistant Director at Preston College, added, “Sam and Ryan’s success reflects the high-quality training environment we strive to create, where apprentices can develop real industry-standard skills and thrive with the support of employers like ABD Ceramics. Working in partnership with committed organisations ensures our apprentices are fully positioned to excel in their career, and this SkillBuild result highlights exactly what strong collaboration can achieve.”