In this day and age, becoming a carpenter can be simpler and shorter than the more traditional routes, which usually involve long-winded apprenticeships, large classes, and gradual results. But this doesn’t have to be the case…

Private Training Academies are the efficient and effective way forward; the short story is that it gets you qualified, working, and earning, quicker than you could any other way. And here are a few reasons why:

• They offer shorter, more condensed courses. 
• This style of intensive training not only makes you learn quicker, but also gives you the same learning opportunities in a more efficient time frame. 
• By the time an apprentice is one-fifth of their way into their course, you can be onsite and gaining valuable experience and salary.
• They are more flexible. 
• Private centres are not like schools or colleges; if you need to, you can fit your training around your professional and personal life. 
• You can complete significant portions of your course online, and travel to the training centre only when it suits you. 
• You gain the qualifications at the pace which suits you best, from whichever location is most convenient.
• They offer high-quality training from industry professionals.
• The training you receive from private academies is guaranteed to be run by tutors who have worldly experience in the industry. 
• They have often spent decades in the field, and are used to working with all manner of tradespeople, on all kinds of jobs.
• To put it simply: you’ll be learning from the best.

The country will always need carpenters, and that’s why Access Training is committed to supplying the next generation of carpenters with the qualifications they need to get on the field, get working, and get earning. If you work well with your hands, can manage well in a team, and enjoy problem-solving – then a carpentry career is for you. 

Access Training offers every qualification necessary for getting started on a promising and successful career. Every type of course we offer covers the bases of carpentry: whether you want a few important, fundamental skills to get you started, or if you want to go all the way up to fitting kitchens and roofs – we have what you need. 

Take a look at our course types below to get an idea of what’s on offer:

• Essential

• Offering the essential skills and qualifications necessary to becoming a domestic carpenter; this course is the base layer requirement for getting you out and working in domestic environments.

• Professional

• For those serious about going far in a carpentry career, this course builds on the qualifications on offer; for wider career options, greater skill-set, and more work opportunities, choose this course.

• Premier

• This course will give you everything you could possibly need from a carpentry career; not only will you be a fully qualified and desirable employee, but you will also have the means to work for yourself, and be your own boss. 

How training works:

With the right mindset, all you need to do is pick the right course for you. Sign up, and our tutors will take care of the rest.

Learn your trade. Get qualified. Make it happen.

"Anybody who's lost their job... my advice is don't be afraid. With hard work and the right training... you can do anything that you want."

Jimmy Adkins, Access Training Academies Tutor speaking to Robert Peston from ITV

Today’ Rishi Sunak announced his ‘Wage Top-Up’ scheme, a plan which effectively allows employers to work a third of their hours for almost the same wage; that is, 77% of their salary for one third of their normal working day. Another skilful avoidance of complete redundancy, another catastrophe missed; but ultimately a temporary measure to delay the inevitable. 

And let’s not forget, that this indicates a reduction in payment from the previous 80% salary offered by the furlough scheme. What happens to people already struggling to make ends meet, now met with a 3% reduction? What will happen at the end of another 6 months when industries are on their knees? 

There is a great cause for concern, as Paul Johnson, head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, predicted that 2 million people could lose their jobs by the end of this year. He called Sunak’s new plans ‘significantly less generous than the furlough scheme’; he also makes a crucial point, that only those currently working more than a third of their usual hours will benefit from this updated system – those not working at all will lose their jobs.

But we at Access Training want to reach out and reassure you that all is not lost. We want to point out the ways in which this period is an opportunity to grasp, that now is the moment you’ve been waiting for. Here are 5 tips on how to navigate the new furlough as a worker:

1. Use gained time to retrain and prepare 

A lack of time and resources are no longer a reason not to invest in a training course. With Sunak’s new scheme announcement, you have the same wage, but two thirds more free time than before. What better way to use that free time than to upskill, retrain, and prepare for the next phase? It’s a no brainer – invest your time wisely.

2. Plan ahead for the worst

If your sector, business, industry of work is likely to be one of those about to crumble, then planning ahead is crucial to avoiding a redundancy further on down the line. Why leave it to chance? Why not join the thousands of chefs, pilots, solicitors, cab drivers, and many other professionals, who are enrolling on a course with us?

3. Keep your options open

Regardless of what line of work you have been, or are currently in, a construction course will cater for you. And with every other sector now under threat from financial ruin and collapse, wouldn’t it be better to have the option to jump ship if it had to come to that? 

4. You have nothing to lose, everything to gain

As you read this, construction courses are reaching peak demand with new students leaving their careers to begin afresh in construction. With the continued uncertainty ahead, this makes perfect sense: a sturdy and dependable industry, guaranteed work and high demand. Upskilling is a win-win situation: you become more employable, you expand on your professional skills, and you gain qualifications which will always benefit you. In these times, it’s best to leave nothing to chance. 

5. Believe in yourself – remain hopeful

As soon as self-belief is lost, then getting yourself back on your feet and moving forward can become impossible. We are here to assure you that Access Training is your way out and up to security and confidence. As Sunak inspiringly noted in his announcement speech:

"What was true at the beginning of the crisis remains true now. It’s on all of us, and we must learn to live … without fear.

Live without fear, and take the leap you’ve been meaning to take – because now really is the time." 

Learn your trade. Get qualified. Make it happen.

With the right skills, a strong desire and a little imagination, it can be surprising just what can be achieved when people put their minds (and hands) to work.

This is particularly applicable when it comes to manual labour jobs, like carpentry and joinery. Take the story of Billy Walden from Bentham, Lancaster, for proof of just that.

A Cut Above

The Daily Mail recently ran a story about a teenage carpenter who incredibly transformed a shabby canal boat on its last sea legs into a holiday home for his mum and 11-year-old sister.

At 18 years old, Billy already had four years of carpentry training under his tool belt, beginning his education at the tender age of 14. He achieved his Level 1 AIM in just one year and even began his Level 2 in carpentry and joinery at just 15.

Despite his age, Billy was no stranger to renovation projects, having already completed a refurb of a VW camper. However, the camper van project left Billy with a desire for something bigger and better. The canal boat project proved to be just that.

Investing in Carpentry Skills

Bought by his mum, Jayne, for just £5k, the boat was a veritable steal due to the fact it didn’t pass all the survey tests. However, that also meant that it was also in need of considerable TLC – a challenge that Billy was more than up for.

Renovation costs accrued to around £2800 and, within just eight weeks, the young carpenter had transformed an uninhabitable budget barge into a unique floating holiday home.

Carpentry Courses and Joinery Courses

Billy’s story once again proves that not only can carpentry and joinery courses can be extremely useful, they can also be extremely rewarding from a personal standpoint too.

At Access Training UK, we offer a number of carpentry courses to suit all levels of education, allowing you to achieve carpentry goals, even if you don’t have any experience going in.

We currently offer the following carpentry courses:

DIY Carpentry Course

A crash course in household DIY carpentry, this course provides you with the basic understanding of carpentry required to complete a variety of carpentry tasks around the home.

Essential Carpentry Course

A basic introduction to carpentry via a foundation-level course. Ideal for those that want to gain basic carpentry knowledge and progress on to more advanced industry-level trade courses.

Professional Carpentry Course

A professional qualification, this course allows you to potentially pursue a career in carpentry and joinery. Suitable for al skill levels with no prior experience or prior knowledge necessary.

NVQ Level 2 Certification

An accredited certification course that allows experienced carpenters to gain the relevant qualifications to carry out on-site carpentry work.

For more information on our carpentry training and joinery courses, call today on 0800 345 7492 or drop us message online using the button below.

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