A HUDDERSFIELD teenager is aiming to prove she can take on the boys in a major building industry contest.
Carpentry student Heidi Spivey, 16, is one of a group of students taking part in the Skill Build Yorkshire competition, being hosted by Huddersfield Technical College on June 6.
Heidi, an apprentice carpenter with Kirklees Council, is a first-year student on the college's NVQ Level 2/3 carpentry and joinery course, which is taught by her father, Paul.
Mr Spivey said it was highly unusual for women to enter the carpentry trade, despite the industry trying to encourage this in recent years.
He added: "It is very, very unusual. We have never had a female carpentry student. She has followed in my footsteps. She was always messing about with wood and helped me when she was younger. Heidi really enjoys it and is doing really well."
Mr Spivey has organised the Skills Build Yorkshire event, which will take place at the college's school of construction at Brunel House on Leeds Road.
In addition to Heidi he will have about 12 other students competing who all work for local companies as well as studying at college.
Some 145 students from colleges around Yorkshire will be competing in different classes, ranging from carpentry to building and painting and decorating.
The students will be given a six-hour task for their particular trade, which will only be revealed to them on the day.
Mr Spivey said: "It is quite gruelling; it really is hard. It is lovely to watch these young people trying to be the best in their professions. The competition is a big deal. It is the Baftas of the building trade."
The winner of the Yorkshire heat will go to the national contest, Skill Build UK, which is held in Birmingham in October.
Success in the national contest could lead to an international competition, the Skill Build Olympics.
Huddersfield Technical College students have a good record in Skill Build contests over the years.
Many have won the Yorkshire heat and gone on to the national stages.
Two years ago Jason Carter won the Skill Build Yorkshire competition and this year his brother Matthew, 18, will be hoping for success. He is a second-year carpentry student at the college.
Mr Spivey is confident his students will do well this year. He said: "We are doing very well for construction in general.
"But over the years we have had phenomenal success in this competition. I'm very proud of our success.
"We like to put students in at an early stage. Some with less experience might not win but it gives them experience for future years.
"But we stand a good chance of success.
"The students have put a lot of hard work in and I'm really proud of them."
Running alongside the Skill Build Yorkshire competition at Brunel House will be a motor show, created by the college's motor transport department, which is also based there.
Both events are open to the public, as well as competitors.
