Joinery Apprenticeship

[Trendsetter]

Has anyone on recently recently completed a joinery apprenticeship or started one?

I'm looking to take on a year's college course then start an apprenticeship some time afterwards and wondered whether anyone would have any advice.

I'm currently 26 and have worked in the emergency services for 8 years so have no trade experience besides DIY.

[Gtom]

I can’t help with the recent apprenticeship, mine started over 20 years ago but are you 100% sure you want to do joinery?
(I’m banding carpentry and joinery as joinery, site joiners and bench joiners. Yes I know the difference btw).

A bricklayer or plasterer turn up with bag or bucket of tools, crack on and collect their £200+/day.

A joiner can have over £10k of tools (I certainly do) and have to contend with ‘my mate Dave down at the pub fits doors for £20’ or having to put right the work of every other lazy half-arsed tradesman that has been on the job before.

I enjoy my job which makes it more bearable but I did have the chance to become an electrician at 16 and I should have grabbed it with both hands.

[ATG]

Best to only grab with one hand. If you grab with both hands, the current passes through your heart and kills you.

[Trendsetter]

Thats the point of the College course for me. Its a year long and incorporates joinery, carpentry and painting and decorating. I can't see me becoming a painter but would like to be better at it and improve my wallpapering skills.

I'm not clued up on the finer details of joiner v carpenter but do enjoy any of the tasks I've taken on which are in that area.

My long term goal is to invest in property and think joinery would be the most appropriate skill to have in that regard. Its a stark change to my current job but it sounds interesting so far