At Deanhouse Group, apprentice carpenter Laura is proving that passion and precision can lead to exceptional results in the world of carpentry and joinery. From creating cutting-edge installations at Villa Park to tackling intricate bespoke projects, Laura’s journey is a testament to her dedication and love for her craft.
If you missed part one, you can read it here.
In our latest Q&A, we explore Laura’s favourite projects, the challenges she’s faced, and how she balances creativity with technical skills. We also hear from Neil, her mentor at Deanhouse Group, who sheds light on the importance of on-site experience and tailored training for apprentices.
What has been your favourite project so far, and why?
In August I worked on the ‘Cell Taps ‘at Villa Park. installed in the concourses so fans can pour their own pints and pay with their card to save queuing up. I worked on attaching the MDF to the wall, cutting out the screens, taps and drains. It was great to work on something different.
I’ve also worked on this seating which I enjoyed as it’s not something I’d had the opportunity to try before.
Laura, are you a football fan?
No! If I was, I’ve been told I’d have to be a Manchester City fan because of my brother-in-law!
Can you share more details about the Gothic window and curved staircase projects – what has been most exciting about these pieces of work?
A few weeks into my level 3 course I began work on the door. I’ve also done the drawings for the frame and the door, and these are hand drawn. I like the creativity side as you can work off the drawings as you go. As the drawings are done by hand, it’s really important to make sure they’re accurate.
What have been some challenging aspects of the projects you’ve worked on, and how have you overcome them?
Being precise is a big part of the job, and of my learning. We’ve recently been working on fire proof bomb-blast panels for East Midlands Airport using specialist backing material. The wood has to be of a particular texture with no knots. From a quality control perspective, this is a job that has to be 100% perfect – there is no room for error.
This is part of the challenge, but I enjoy it because it feels good to create something that’s 100% perfect. It can be a little nerve-wracking in case the client sends the panels back. So I check, triple check and look over everything again, including the surfaces of the wood.
It can be a little challenging to make sure you’re maintaining concentration on all the panels – there are 100 panels in total, made from 1,400 pieces of oak that need to be machine sanded and fire proofed – it’s a big job.
How do you balance the creative side of carpentry with the technical skills you’re learning?
On the creative side, it’s mainly creating and working off the drawings. But, there’s more possibility to be creative working on site, particularly if something changes, and I like the problem-solving side. In the workshop everything is made with precision which is easier as it’s in a controlled environment. But if a piece doesn’t fit as expected, you have to have your head in problem-solving mode to be able to rectify things.
Neil: It’s important for Laura, and our other apprentices, to have a good idea of how things are installed on site. Creative problem-solving such as this helps to fill some of the gaps in training. There’s only so much knowledge that can be taught in the classroom, especially with no shopfitting-specific courses available in our area of the country. So, this makes on-site experience even more important. Even with the right courses available, site work experience delivers knowledge, experience and visibility of how things take place – which is essential for all-round knowledge.
What advice would you give to other young women who are considering a career in carpentry and joinery?
Just go for it! Especially if it’s something you enjoy. You might get nervous about how it’s going to go. But in my experience, everyone has been so nice.
If you could design and complete any project from start to finish, what would your ‘dream’ project be, and why?
I’d love to work on a basketball court! I’ve played since I was little, about six years old, and I love it. I joined a team when I was 13. Bringing my hobby and my work together would be amazing!
Thanks, Laura. No pressure there, Neil!
How has Laura’s progress influenced the way you approach training apprentices at Deanhouse Group?
We’ve had apprentices for a long time now – some have stayed and they’re still working for us, and they began their careers with us in 2017. The market is quite difficult. It can take some time to recruit the right person.
Given that the carpentry courses are generic, how do you tailor the practical training at Deanhouse to ensure apprentices like Laura get the specific skills needed for shopfitting?
There’s not a shopfitting apprenticeship, but there’s lot of shopfitting businesses. So learning bench joinery and site joinery are limited because it’s still all doors and stairs, which aren’t relevant. We need to fill the gaps in training, so we try and add in missing topics to practical experience. It means that we have to spend more time with apprentices, and build in more time to coach and mentor in order to support their learning. On the positive side, it also means that apprentices are learning from people who have twenty or thirty years’ experience in the industry.
Laura: That’s a good part of the job. The machinery we use in college tends to be previous models or older in general. The equipment we have here is more modern.
What are some of the most valuable lessons you’ve passed on to apprentices like Laura when it comes to on-site work?
Definitely the on-site experience. It’s easier to learn in a controlled environment, but really that’s only half the job. In the workshop, you take drawings as gospel, so going to site demonstrates real-world understanding of how installations happen. Site work can be unpredictable. Sometimes jobs take more time than anticipated, mistakes happen and amends can be costly, so it’s good to be able to take that knowledge and experience back into the workshop for next time.
With huge thanks to Laura and Neil for taking the time out to update us on Laura’s progress.
Carpenter’s Craft Competition
Calling all apprentice carpenters and carpentry students – the Carpenter’s Craft Competition is now open.
What’s it all about?
This is a National competition open to students of carpentry, joinery and shopfitting. It gives outstanding students the chance to showcase their work and have it judged by leaders in the field.
With prizes of up to £500 available, the competition aims to encourage and reward highly motivated students who are prepared to go that extra mile to achieve the highest possible standards.
Success in this prestigious competition gives students a head start in their chosen vocation having achieved official recognition of their exceptional skills and high calibre workmanship.
There are opportunities to take part at both a regional and national level, with students from over 200 colleges nationwide eligible to take part.
What do I need to create?
The 2024 – 2025 task is to create a kitchen hatchway and door. The competition closes on 31st March 2025. Full instructions and terms and conditions are available here.
