Mayo builder reaches semi-final stage of UK and Ireland's top tradesperson competition

Chris Moran, a builder from Westport, Co. Mayo has beaten stiff competition to secure a semi-final place in Screwfix’s search for the UK and Ireland’s top tradesperson, which is now in its 6th year in Ireland.  

Chris, who works with Moran Bros. Builders, has worked in construction for 25 years across all aspects of the industry. His professionalism and dedication stood out among the hundreds of entries from tradespeople across the UK and Ireland.

A qualified civil engineer, Chris has more than two decades in construction under his belt. In 2018, he co-founded Moran Bros. Builders alongside his brother - a growing business that now employs a dedicated team, including a number of young apprentices.

Chris thrives on the variety each project brings and takes pride in teamwork, problem-solving, and the overall sense of accomplishment that comes with a job well done. 

For him, seeing it all come together - and the clients' smiles at the end - makes it the best job in the world.  The semi-final stage will see Chris compete against over 40 other top tradespeople, presenting their skills and story to judges from Screwfix. The semi-finalists will be whittled down to just ten before advancing to the national final at Screwfix LIVE in September.

And it’s at Screwfix LIVE, after being put through their paces by a panel of industry experts, one winner will be crowned Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2025 and take home a €20,000 trade bundle of tools, tech, and training.

Chris says: “When I heard that I had been successful in getting to the semi-final stage of the Screwfix top tradesperson competition I was shocked. It’s an honour to compete against such talented individuals and I’m excited to share my story with the judges - not just to showcase my skills, but also to inspire the next generation of tradespeople. Here in Ireland, we need more young apprentices and I hope to show them just how rewarding a career in the trades can be.” 

A chance to join the Hall of Fame 

This year’s successful winner will join the likes of the current top tradesperson, plumber Mohammed Rahman, and 2023 winner Astrid Arnold in the growing Screwfix Hall of Fame.

Jack Wallace, Marketing Director at Screwfix, added: “Now in its 16th year, our search for the UK and Ireland’s Top Tradesperson continues to highlight the exceptional talent within the trade industry. This year’s entries have been truly inspiring, and I wish all semi-finalists the best of luck as they compete for this year’s title.” To find out more about Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2025, visit screwfix.ie/stt.