Entered for the competition by her course leaders at Fife College, the budding apprentice painter has won second place in the regional round of the CITB Skillbuild 2023 Painting and Decorating competition, making her one of Taylor Wimpey’s youngest rising stars of the future.

Currently based at Taylor Wimpey’s West Craigs development in Edinburgh, Shinnade’s runners-up place in this national competition recognises her commitment, dedication and quality of her trade to both the company’s apprenticeship programme and her college work.

Shinnade joined Taylor Wimpey East Scotland as an apprentice painter following her successful completion of an internship as part of the Career Ready Programme in September 2022.

She’s thrilled to have done so well in this year’s Skillbuild regional heat as she explained: “I am very proud of my achievements at Skillbuild this year, and I hope that I get an opportunity to enter again next year. I would love to get to the national finals.

“Since I completed my Career Ready internship, I’ve thrived in a real work environment, and I’ve surprised myself with how much I enjoy painting and decorating. With Taylor Wimpey supporting me with my apprenticeship along with the support I get from my lecturers at Fife College, I’ve learnt so much but I’m already looking forward to my next challenge.”

As a supporter of the Career Ready Programme since 2018, Taylor Wimpey East Scotland is proud of the opportunities and benefits the scheme offers young people in high schools across Fife.

Tommy Stirling, production director for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland said: “We’re delighted to see first-hand the very high standard of work that Shinnade produces for us here in the region on a daily basis.

“Securing second place in the regional Skillbuild competition goes some way to recognising how much talent Shinnade has and what she has already achieved in such a short space of time. It also highlights her potential to continue to grow and succeed in this industry.

“Shinnade makes a very important contribution to our business, and we are keen to continue our support for both her and the other young people who are keen to be the future of the construction industry. This helps us to make sure that we maintain a good flow of talent into each of the trades of our business.

“Our continued support of the Career Ready Programme in Fife and our growing relationships with colleges throughout the east of Scotland is helping us to achieve some momentum with our young talent recruitment, which is great news as we look to future-proof the business and the wider housebuilding industry.”