Every carpenter and joiner starts somewhere. Meet the students and apprentices who found their way into the trade – through family, by chance, or by changing career.
Will comes from a family of carpenters going back to his grandfather. Design lessons at school and weekend site visits with his dad sparked his love of hands-on work. Like his two brothers, he’s studying site carpentry at The Sheffield College, and he’s apprenticed at the family firm, Leda Joinery – with an eye on running his own business one day.
Bench joineryThe Sheffield CollegeIOC student member
Tim White Apprentice bench joiner
Working for a local builder, Tim visited a joinery workshop, was hooked by what he saw – and asked for a job. Now an apprentice there, he works on bespoke joinery including listed buildings, and loves making curved and arched doors and staircases by hand. Next stop: Level 3 Bench Joinery.
“I was very lucky and they took me on as an apprentice.”
After ten years as a university lecturer, Matthew discovered carpentry and joinery through furniture-making courses – and changed career. Studying at the Building Crafts College, he won the Institute’s first Third Year Student Award in November 2020, and now works for a cabinetmaker.
“I’d recommend carpentry and joinery as a career to anyone.”
