I heard about the apprentice scheme through my dad, because Matt and he are friends. I’ve been on the scheme 5 months now and I really like the people I work with and the physical work. I do a lot of lifting, carrying and walking which keeps me fit and strong. I’ve become much stronger over the past 5 months, for instance, lifting 21s (the longest tubes) was hard, but now it’s easy. The hardest thing for me, has been the early morning starts at 7.30am, which will soon be 6.30am.
Before I started with MK Scaffolding, I was doing labouring for a builder, the days went quickly, but I prefer scaffolding because of the change of scenery; going to different sites such as Rickmansworth, where we’re helping build a new Premier Inn and the other day we were at The Open University putting up scaffolding for the renovation of a church. We had to lift the kit up on a pully system; rope and wheel, which is the first time I’ve used it. At MK Scaffolding, you’re with different people all the time which keeps it interesting. Matt gives regular tool-box talks, with this apprenticeship scheme you can train on the job. I’ll be doing my induction and Part 1 in the next few weeks which I’m really looking forward to.My advice to any new apprentice would be to keep working hard, be safe and do what you’re told because elements of the job are quite dangerous.
(left to right, James Walker, Corey Robertson, Matt Bowler, Jordan Taylor, Matt Legg)