Chris Shoult

Carpenter

'I like to stand back and see what I've achieved,' says 21 year old carpenter Chris Shoult. 'I turn up on the first day and it's an average loft. Then you turn it into a lovely bedroom and en-suite. You can stand back and say: "I made that". That's really cool.'

Chris works for Dave Martin Carpentry, a four person firm based in East Sussex. He started there as an apprentice four months after leaving school and has been there ever since.

Chris had thought of entering the building trade since he was young, but wasn't sure of exactly which trade he wanted to do. 'I always liked making things. I once took a day off in primary school to knock down a chimney with my Dad. I had to pretend that I was sick and soon as he gets his tools out I was out of bed and helping him.' He eventually chose carpentry because of the variety. Now his typical day is 'mad'. 'There's never a dull minute,' he says.

Whilst working as an apprentice, Chris studied for his qualifications - City & Guilds Wood Occupations Levels 2 and 3. He went to college on a day release basis - one day a week. At college, his mornings would be taken up by theory lessons, while his afternoons were mostly practical work - putting into practice what he'd learned. In contrast to school, which he felt was a chore, Chris loved his course. 'It was always interesting to learn the theory side, but was good to get into the workshop and compare yourself to everyone else,' he says. 'It's very different to school or A-levels. I was out on-site getting practical experience. In the building trade the practical side is the most important. You've got to be able to do it with your hands as well as in your head.'

So what do you need to be a carpenter? 'To be professional, be polite to customers and never be happy with less than the best. Always think of ways you can improve your work and do things better. Don't be satisfied with your work unless you'd be satisfied with it in your own house.'

Would he recommend his job to others? 'I'd always recommended building, because we'll always need tradesmen and they'll always be in an in-demand job. Plus, you can stand back and say 'I made that"'.