Welcome to Skill Builder

Welcome to Skill Builder, the resource for everyone involved in a building or renovation project. We provide practical guidance for all aspects of building renovation. We aim to give you plenty of hard information, as well as a good deal of inspiration. We recognise that the learning curve in building can be steep and relentless.

As regular viewers of programmes such as Grand Designs will know, when it comes to cutting edge technology there is a lot that can go wrong. In the building industry, Murphy’s Law (if it can go wrong, it will go wrong) sometimes seems endemic, but often it is self inflicted and unnecessary. In many aspects the novice is better equipped than the professional to succeed because they tend to seek help at every turn. To use a navigation analogy, it is usually when you think you know where you are going that you get lost. If you know that you don’t know, you are more likely to look at a map.

Do we have all the answers? Certainly not but we aim to provide some of them, and to draw on the experience of industry experts to help you. We also provide product evaluations, practical demonstrations and case histories that will help you source the right products and materials for your project, and more importantly avoid some of the common pitfalls encountered in applying them to your projects.

Skill Builder’s reviews and video content are produced and edited by Roger Bisby. Roger entered the building industry as an apprentice plumber. In those days they still wiped lead joints with a blow lamp and moleskin so you can tell he is no spring chicken. He went on to train as a college lecturer and has also run his own building company for nearly 30 years. He specialises in trouble shooting and has a dogged determination to get to the bottom of difficult problems. He put these talents to good use as the regular expert on London Broadcasting Company’s (LBC) Fix It Phone In which remained one of their most popular shows throughout its 15 year run. His television work includes appearances as the resident expert on The Terrace (BBC) Watchdog Home Improvement Series (BBC) Rogue Traders (BBC) and House of Horrors (ITV). He currently works for trade publications including Professional Builder, Professional Electrician, Professional Heating and Plumbing Installer, and Professional Housebuilder and Property Developer.

Skill Builder’s industry and product news is edited by Georgina Bisby. Georgina has a wealth of experience in b2b publishing. In her previous role as Group Editor for Western Business Publishing Georgina oversaw a number of market leading titles and wesbites. Georgina also edited Health & Safety Matters for eight years and was previously Deputy Editor for Water, Energy & Environment (now The Energyst).

Skill Builder’s video production is headed up by Dylan Garton, a video editor and producer with over fifteen years experience of creating video content for the building industry. Dylan has also travelled the world filming some of the highest profile international sporting events and is at the cutting edge of the latest video technology. Dylan understands the importance of balancing television production qualities with YouTube accessibility.