Meet Kevin

Kevin didn’t start his carpentry journey with total confidence - but he did start with curiosity and determination. After discovering his love for fixing things around the house, he decided to turn that interest into a real career.

I’ve always been interested in fixing things around the house, doors, window boards, anything that needed a bit of attention. That curiosity is what made me decide to go into carpentry. It just felt like the perfect fit for me.

When I first started my apprenticeship, I didn’t have all the skills I needed, but I was eager to learn.

The first few weeks were definitely a learning curve but I quickly realised that the best way to improve is to get stuck in and start doing the work.

Over time, I’ve gained confidence and can now approach tasks knowing I have the skills to get them done properly.

Since starting, I’ve built up a wide range of skills. I’ve worked on first and second fix jobs in new homes, fixed doors, window boards, and even tackled door installations. Doing these tasks hands-on has made a huge difference. There’s nothing like completing a job yourself and seeing the result.

One of the biggest skills I’ve learned is problem solving. At the beginning, if something went wrong, I wasn’t sure how to fix it. Now, I can identify the problem and figure out the best way to solve it.

Even mistakes become learning opportunities.

My advice for anyone thinking about an apprenticeship is to ask questions, get involved, and make the most of the support around you. The tutors at New City College and my employer have been really encouraging. They always check in to make sure I’m doing well.

Once I finish my apprenticeship, I plan to continue working on-site, and hopefully increase my earnings as I gain more experience. The most rewarding part has been being able to use the skills I’ve learned outside of work too. There’s a great sense of achievement knowing I can fix things at home and use tools confidently.