Birmingham teenager Niall Quinney is an apprentice carpenter, following in his granddad’s footsteps to establish a career working with timber. The 18-year-old from Sheldon joined Persimmon Homes Central in May 2019 and will soon complete his NVQ Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery apprenticeship.
He said: “I attend Solihull College one day a week, the rest of the time I’m out on site. I’m at Paragon Park in Coventry at the moment, which is my third development. I’m really enjoying the work and learning lots of new skills from everyone here.”
Elliot O’Sullivan, Site Manager at Paragon Park and Niall’s line manager said: “We’ve been able to give Niall the opportunity to work on a wide range of carpentry jobs including working with timber framing, trusses, 1st and 2nd fix, and he’s done really well.”
Elliot himself is a former apprentice so knows the benefits of the scheme: “When I was 17 I was an apprentice bricklayer, so I know how successful an apprenticeship is at steering a young person in the right direct. That has certainly worked for Niall who soon will be able to choose which area of carpentry he focuses on.
“He’s been a really good apprentice for Persimmon; he’s got on and done the job and any tasks I have set him has completed to a good standard.”
On his days at college Niall studies the knowledge, skills and behaviours as set out within the apprenticeship standard, which include: health, safety & welfare; use of hand tools and power tools; measuring, marking out, fitting, cutting and splicing; and forming joints such as dovetail, comb and mortice and tenon. When he’s not at work he enjoys playing and watching football and is a Birmingham City fan.
Niall added: “I hope one day to have my own business in the trade, so the skills I learn today will be really useful to me in the future.”
