APPRENTICES
person’s life by building their dream home.” What has been notable for Gay during his time in the industry is how much his confidence has grown and how he is able to work independently, solving problems as he encounters them. “It’s definitely something that takes months and months to gain, but it shows that if you don’t give up, the better the chance you have of succeeding.” Graham has also become more certain of his abilities through experience. He hopes to obtain his level 3 joinery qualification to add to his knowledge but in the meanwhile, he is taking pride in every job done. His highlight so far has been working on the extension project at tile and bathroom specialists E&R Bennett’s Fivemiletown branch. “We converted it from an old, run-
never quite sure which one specifically. “During Covid, an opportunity came up to do painting and decorating,” Powell explains. “I put my all into it and ended up really enjoying the trade. It has become a real passion.” Just being put forward for a Master Builder Award by his company has boosted Powell’s confidence. “I’m really grateful for that,” he says. With his plan to become “the best deco rator I can and hopefully pass on some skills and knowledge to others” Powell quite likes the idea of one day becoming an employer and taking on ambitious projects. Valuable advice Receiving good advice at the right time can be a significant help in one’s career. For Gay, it came from his current boss: “He told me that no matter what happens, if I’m working
great or not, as long as I keep my head down then that’s all that matters.” Barton’s best tip is: “Don’t let others ‘borrow’ your tools, especially your tape measure, because it will disappear for a few weeks, and you might not ever get it back. I’m not kidding.” More strategically, he says: “You’ll only get out what you put in. If you only do a specific task once or twice and don’t invest in practising
and refining that skill, you’ll only ever be as good as having done that thing once or twice.” Archibald shares his best lesson: “When you are finding something difficult, take a step back and think what the finished product will look like and what steps you need to take to complete the task.” Biocraft Ltd’s carpentry apprentice Kenny Thompson won at the Southern Counties Master Builder Awards. The most helpful advice he has received so far came from a senior colleague: “Keep listening and learning. Take on board as much as you can as it will grow you as a person and in your workspace.” Thompson has taken the advice to heart. Keen to learn a skill “that will have me set for life and to build a good career out of it”, he has also passed his NVQ2 and plans to further his knowledge and take on senior positions.
down building into a modern showroom. The transformation was
massive and seeing the end result makes me proud of my input alongside the rest of the Rahoran team.” Adopt the right mindset Ask any construction employer and they will tell you that the right attitude goes a long way. Apprentice of the Year in London, Joseph Powell, shows how true this is. A painting and decorating apprentice at McLoughlin Decorating Limited, Powell says: “I knew I wanted to get a trade under my belt. It was always something I’ve been interested in but was
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Master Builder
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