Apprentice follows in father’s footsteps and builds foundations for career in construction
11 December 2024
An ambitious teenager with a clear vision of what he wants to achieve has been learning the basics of carpentry during his first month working as an apprentice.
An ambitious teenager with a clear vision of what he wants to achieve has been learning the basics of carpentry during his first month working as an apprentice.
Matt Allum, 16, finished high school in the summer and knew he was ready for the world of work. After exploring several options, he applied for an apprenticeship with Andy Lewis Carpentry.
Now he is working on the Charles Church site at the Chancery Park development in Exning learning the trade from the ground up under the watchful eye of not only Andy but also his father, Tony, who is Project Manager at the site.
Matt said: “I knew I didn’t want to go back to the classroom full time after leaving high school, and wanted to do something more active and hands on.
“Carpentry really excited me and five weeks in I have been able to see each stage of the job and how the whole process works here on site. I am now looking forward to working on a house from the ground up and being involved in each step.
“Once I have done a final fix on a house that I started on, then I will be able to proudly say ‘I helped build that house’.”
Matt works at the development four days a week and attends Harlow College on Fridays to cement the knowledge, skills and training he is receiving on site.
Dad Tony said: “I am really proud of the start Matt has made and that he is keen to work in construction. Learning the trade in a hands-on environment is a great way to gain real experience and understanding of what the job entails, and once he is qualified he will have a number of paths open to him.”
Andy Lewis said: “Matt has been an asset to the team and we are looking forward to watching him grow. We invest heavily in apprenticeships because we believe they are vital for bringing fresh talent into the industry and ensuring we are training the workforce of tomorrow to the high standards we need.”
