A CONSTRUCTION trainee has excelled in a national trades competition.

Walthamstow trainee, Michal Baran, won the plastering category at the regional heat of a UK construction skills competition, SkillBuild 2010.

Michal, who is training at Barking & Dagenham College, is one of the six talented apprentices from London who won in their category at the regional heat on May 11.

The top scoring winners from across the country will be selected to go on to the final once the regional heats have been completed in June.

Run by ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry, the national final will put trainees through their paces in competitions for their main construction trade.

Mike Paxton, head of construction and built environment at Barking & Dagenham College, said: “We are very proud of Michal who has done incredibly well in this competition.

"This success is a testament to his ability and dedication, and to the importance of the vocational training and skills taught at Barking & Dagenham College."