Apprenticeship

[livias]

Unlikely to be of direct relevance to forumites but maybe you know someone who woukd be interested
In partnershio with the National Heritage Training Group I am offering an apprenticeship in Pargeting and Conservation Plasterwork, based near Bedford
For more information see their website
Anna

 

[livias]

Just heard back from the NHBG and with two days to go before closing date for applications to be my apprentice, there are hardly any applications. You can take a horse to water but old houses are never going to be repaired well if no-one wants to do it for a living. A pity because it will be an interesting apprenticeship imo and the skill set is in great demand

 

[Flyfisher]

Yes, a great shame but I'm not overly surprised.

A friend of FF junior decided to spurn university in favour of carpentry. He did a three year course/apprenticeship (I don't know the precise details) and duly qualified. His main working time was spent on the renovation of a huge country house in Leicestershire somewhere and he seemed very enthusiastic. When that job finished he decided to look for other similar work and while looking for a more permanent position somewhere I offered him some work on our house, mainly the repairs and extension of our outbuilding roofs (rooves?). He was very diligent and careful in his work.

During this time we also employed an historical building specialist firm to do some frame repairs on the main house and he got talking to their carpenters and all seemed to get on well. He was told there was plenty of work for such specialists and it was far more varied, interesting and challenging than formulaic new build work and that, having seen his work, they be happy to put in a good word for him with their boss. I saw it as a wonderful opportunity to work with a specialist firm, really learn the ins and outs of the business and possibly be a pathway to his own business. He didn't want the commitment. He's now working in a builders merchant, so that's another possible recruit lost to the conservation of period properties.

 

[Mickey]

This is very disappointing! After 30 years spent in an office I really really would love to do this after varying degrees of renovations in two properties, period property has turned out to be such a passion but I think even as a young person I always had a love of old buildings perhaps that primary school trip to The Weald and Downland Museum sparked the enthusiasm early on but sadly it doesn't seem much of a priority or interest for the youth of today who seem more preoccupied with narcissism and social media....sorry sweeping statement I know. Sadly being the wrong side of 45, having a huge mortgage, a property which is still not weather tight and living in Cornwall means it's very much a dream

I hope there is a last minute keen recruit for the position Livias so that these skills can be passed on.

Mickey

 

[mims&pip]

That's a real shame, Livias I, too would have loved to do something like this but a) at 49 I think I'm a bit too long in the tooth and b) it's too far for a non-driver to travel......

When I was in my late twenties, having studied fashion design and then set up a small shop with my dad as partner, I had the opportunity to study the restoration of old buildings on a (iirc) degree course that involved hands-on experience in NT buildings. Our shop lease had a year to run, I had already - with Pip - launched into restoring my first period house and as I was tiring of the whole retail/fashion thing I asked my parents if they would 'mind the shop' (they already worked there part time) whilst I went off to follow my dream. They said no. I've forever regretted not finding a way to do it.....

Mims x