Celebrating excellence: Alistair Corbett, finalist for Association of Brickwork Contractors Apprentice of the Year Award

We are thrilled to announce that Alistair Corbett, an apprentice at Caxton Builders, has been selected as one of the four finalists for the prestigious ABC Apprentice of the Year Award. The winner will be revealed on Friday, 23 February 2024, at London’s St Pancras Renaissance Hotel.

Finding a passion for bricklaying

Alistair’s passion for construction was sparked when he helped his father build a single-story extension. This experience led him to pursue an apprenticeship in bricklaying. Alistair commented, “It was during this time that I realised bricklaying was the trade for me. It’s rewarding to see buildings taking shape. This encouraged me to find out more about bricklaying and as I was researching this I came across different bonds and decorative features – this further encouraged me to look for an apprenticeship.”

Making an impact at Caxton Builders

At Caxton Builders, Alistair has thrived on a variety of projects, including schools and residential schemes, showcasing skills in soilder stack bond and arches. Driven by a vision, Alistair is committed to a successful future in this industry. “I have high aspirations to work up to my goals of becoming the best bricklayer I can be. I aim to do this by working my way up to a site managing role when I feel I have enough experience to do so”. 

A strong work ethic, coupled with a thirst for knowledge

Ivan Sharpe, Construction Manager at Caxton Builders, has worked closely with Alistair and shared his views on the aspects of Alistairs performance and mindset that have been integral to his success. Ivan commented, “The practical skill came so naturally to Alistair, he picked up bricklaying skills very quickly. His work ethic was already there, and he also had a great thirst for knowledge – constantly asking questions and wanting to move to new sites which had different and varying degrees of complex brickwork features.”

Building futures – one apprenticeship at a time

Apprenticeships are the cornerstone of the construction sector, offering a holistic approach to learning that combines practical experience with theoretical knowledge. They cultivate passion, expertise and adaptability, ensuring a robust and innovative future for the construction industry. ​​

Beyond honing his own skills, Alistair took the time to support his peers on the apprenticeship scheme. Emily Humphrey, Training Provider from Salutem, supported Alistair on the English and maths element of his apprenticeship. She noted, “He deserves to be acknowledged as his willingness to learn has enabled him to complete the apprenticeship with a distinction. The bricklaying standard has some complicated skills which aren’t carried out onsite very often.  His willingness to practice these skills at the training centre over and over has paid off. Alistair helped other apprentices throughout his apprenticeship, taking the time to recognise when other apprentices were struggling and motivating them to complete tasks. He listened and took onboard advice to improve his knowledge and skills.”

Congratulations to Alistair for getting to this point, and we’re wishing you all the best for the finals! 

Every quarter we honour one of our outstanding apprentices’ hard work and commitment. Catch up now.