Finn MacArthur and Sinead McLaren, who both hail from Scotland, have been named as finalists in this year’s Screwfix Trade Apprentice competition.
Aspiring carpentry apprentice Finn MacArthur, 21, along with apprentice joiner Sinead McLaren, 18, will now compete against eight other finalists from across the UK and Ireland in a bid to be crowned Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2025.
The winner, who will be announced at the two-day final in May, will take home an incredible prize bundle of tools, training and technology worth £10,000 – while also scooping £2,000 worth of Screwfix vouchers for their college.
Since starting her joinery journey, Sinead, from Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, has become a strong advocate for introducing the trades to young people when they are considering their career options. She believes it is important to raise awareness early and hopes to one day mentor apprentices of her own. She said: The joinery industry is highly rewarding to work in, and so to be recognised for my skills and dedication at this level is such a huge compliment.
“The competition is an incredible opportunity to showcase what I’ve learned so far, while highlighting the importance of trade apprentices in shaping the future of the joinery industry”
Finn, from the Isle of Arran, has developed a passion for sustainability and making homes as energy efficient as possible. Once qualified Finn wants to continue learning more about carpentry and hopes to one day be self-employed. Finn’s unmatched commitment to sustainability, dedication to learning, and relentless work ethic saw him stand out in the semi-finals, after being selected from more than 2,000 applications.
He said: “I love the variety this job brings. I’ll turn my hand to anything – roughing, finishing, roofing – you name it! There’s always something new to learn, and I’m looking forward to the final where I can take my creativity and skills to a new level.”
The final
Hosted at Google's UK Office in London on 7-8th May, the competition’s final promises to be a challenging yet rewarding experience.
The final will offer the top 10 the chance to network and participate in workshops hosted by industry experts and will see each of them interviewed by an expert panel of judges. The judges include representatives from Screwfix, the Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering (CIPHE), the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC), the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and Screwfix Top Tradesperson Mohammed Rahman.
Screwfix Marketing Director, Jack Wallace, shared his enthusiasm for the competition, saying: “Apprenticeships are vital to the growth of the trade industry, ensuring we have talented individuals entering the workforce with the skills required to succeed.
“The Screwfix Trade Apprentice competition is about spotlighting passionate apprentices who are paving the way for the future. We’re thrilled to celebrate this next generation of tradespeople. The talent we see is just getting better and better, so I already know it will be a tricky decision for the judges to make on the day. I wish all finalists the best of luck!”
