Future Star nominee – Rhyllan Taperek
Future Star nominee – Rhyllan Taperek
Student Rhyllan Taperek joined Stoke on Trent College in September 2022 to complete a full-time City & Guilds Level one Bricklaying course at the age of just 14, following elective home education, with dreams of becoming a site manager for his dad’s business: Kobra Construction.
During his first two years at the college, he has successfully completed both his City & Guilds Level 1 and Level 2 diplomas in bricklaying. After becoming eligible for a recognised apprenticeship, Rhyllan became a bricklaying apprentice for Kobra Construction.
Rhyllan has been nominated in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards by Stoke-on-Trent College.
A college spokesman said: “From the outset of coming to college, Rhyllan demonstrated a passion and maturity that far exceed his years. On his study days, he is often the first to arrive, assisting technicians with workshop setup and maintaining a safe, organised environment, but it is his aptitude and skill for bricklaying that really set him apart from other students.”
Rhyllan’s tutor, Rob Harrison, put him forward for a Regional Guild of Bricklayers competition. Rob recognised Rhyllan’s natural talent for bricklaying and saw the regional Guild of Bricklayers competition as the perfect opportunity for him to test his skills against other budding bricklayers.
The Guild of Bricklayers competition sees students from Further Education in timed tasks that test their ability to produce high quality brickwork display under timed conditions. Rhyllan won the West Midlands regional heat and placed third nationally.
Following this, Rhyllan has also won the SkillBuild UK regional heat in the bricklaying category at Trafford College and will now represent Stoke-on-Trent College and the entire West Midlands region in the national finals in November at MK College.
As an apprentice for Kobra Construction, Rhyllan is applying the skills learnt in the classroom, on live building projects across Staffordshire. He is an active part of the Kobra team, working on new builds, home extensions and renovations, with a keen focus on efficiency and time management.
Rhyllan actively challenges himself by requesting increasingly complex brickwork projects, including battered walls, corbelling and angled structures, and decorative panels. These tasks have stretched Rhyllan’s own abilities and help him to prepare for his End Point Assessment.
His leadership also extends to environmental responsibility. Rhyllan has spearheaded sustainability efforts at Kobra Construction, advocating for battery-powered tools, sourcing timber from replanting schemes and promoting local materials to reduce emissions. He introduced segregated skips to improve recycling and actively encourages eco-friendly practices, resulting in measurable reductions in waste and carbon output.
The college spokesman added: “Rhyllan is not just laying bricks, he’s laying the foundation for a future defined by excellence, innovation,and integrity.
“His journey is a powerful testament to what passion, discipline and support can achieve. For all these reasons, Rhyllan is a truly deserving candidate for the Future Star award.”