Conna O’Toole joined Kendrick Homes two years ago on their Apprenticeship scheme in carpentry and joinery and has never looked back.

The 21 year old from Northfield in Birmingham has gone from strength to strength and has recently been awarded first place in The Skillbuild Regional Heat Competition 2017, which brings all of the college’s best carpenters and joiners together within the West Midlands.

He came third in the competition last year, but this year’s first place ensures he now competes at National level later this year.

He is currently based at Kendrick Homes’ development at Spring Meadows in Drakes Broughton near Pershore where he can be found fitting roofing trusses and attending to other carpentry work.

Conna commented, “I am delighted to be working with Kendrick Homes who not only encourage me but give me so much flexibility to continue my studies on a day release basis at college, whilst enabling me to be understudy to the same carpenter and joiner on a daily basis.

“By being able to combine the theory and practical knowledge that I am gaining it is giving me the confidence to enter such competitions as Skillbuild.

“And it is a great feeling to now be able to say I am officially a carpenter and joiner – and the best in the region!”

Earlier this year Conna worked on a voluntary basis through the college to help complete a project for Perry Common Primary School for an outdoor ‘show and tell’ area which gave him new experience of working in a different environment - and as one of the highest trained Apprentices on site he also had an opportunity to perform in a managerial role too.

Wayne Bingham, Health, Safety and Environment Manager at Kendrick Homes commented, “ By working with Apprentices such as Conna we are able to bring them through the ranks and are able to teach them our style and quality by training them to Kendrick Homes’ high standards.

“And by being able to continue their studying on a day release course whilst combining their onsite learning and knowledge outside of the classroom with a Kendrick approved carpenter and joiner it’s a win-win situation.

“It's also good having an Apprentice on site that knows our standards and someone that we can rely on 100%, such as Conna, and we wish him every success in his continued development as a carpenter and joiner.”

https://kendrickhomes.co.uk/