Brickwork Student Goes for Gold

East Sussex College Bricklaying apprentice Rowan Martyn wins gold in Guild of Bricklayers competition to advance to the national final.

Rowan, 20, from, Bexhill-On-Sea, studies at the Eastbourne campus. He was entered into his first Junior competition, the Guild of Bricklayers, and won the Gold medal at the regional finals at Highbury College in Portsmouth. He will now take part in the national final in Liverpool this June, which will see him compete against 15 bricklayers from all over the country.

Rowan says, “I heard about the competition through someone I work with. He reached the Senior Nationals and came third a few years ago. I’m excited to reach the next stage of the competition and further my skills.”

Rowan’s course sees him attend college one day a week and then spend four days a week in the workplace.

East Sussex College also entered first-year student Aaron Smith, 19, from Polegate, into the competition, as a senior competitor. Aaron studied Business before starting his apprenticeship at East Sussex College. Talking about the competition, Aaron said, “It was more stressful and high pressure doing brickwork in the competition as we were being scrutinised and under time pressures. The first hour was quite nerve-wracking but then I got into it. Entering this competition has made me an all-round better bricklayer.”

Tutor Nigel Edwards, comments, “Both Rowan and Aaron are a credit to the college. Rowan came away with the gold medal and has earned his place at the national finals, which is a fantastic achievement! We’re equally impressed with Aaron as he was entered into the Senior competition because the college can only have one entrant in each category.

“The experience it has given both of the lads is invaluable, but perhaps even more so for Aaron. Throughout the competition he was outstanding, and you don’t often get year 1 students in the senior competitions. He’s had experience of competing under pressure and will give it his best shot at the SkillBuild competition coming up later this year.”

Rowan advances to the national final in Liverpool later this month and will also enter the SkillBuild competition.