Tom Stower
Apprentice Carpenter for project contractors Coniston Ltd.
Twenty year old Tom Stower, originally from Woolwich moved to Sheerness in 2015 and attended the Oasis Academy, he then went onto study Level 1 & 2 Carpentry at Sheppey College. Since studying he has spent two years working towards his NVQ gaining site experience doing groundwork, and getting as much workplace experience as possible, but he has been particularly keen to secure an opportunity to focus on building his carpentry skills and experience.
Tom is delighted to now be working full time on the Dockyard Church restoration and is excited to be there at the start of the 18 month project which he hopes will expand his skills by having the opportunity to work alongside a variety of trade specialists including those experienced in historic buildings.
Tom working on site at the Dockyard Church Photo by Rikard Osterlund
Tom has been really enjoying the chance to use his carpentry skills and has initially been helping to fit out the site container offices and assisting the site carpenter to install the perimeter hoardings. He hopes to be able to continue working on the job to see the project through to completion and would love the opportunity to work with roofing experts on the complex building roof timbers.
Tom says …
“I’m really happy to have got this role working on such a great project and just want to learn. It’s great being given the chance to show an employer what I’m capable of and having the opportunity to show my carpentry skills and prove that I can work hard, rather than just being asked to sweep up on site as is so often the case.
Tom Stower Photo by Rikard Osterlund
This job’s really different, the team are giving me support and encouragement, they happily give me advice and their time and show me how to do things, I want to be an asset to the site. It’s brilliant to be able to talk to such experienced people who are willing to give me a chance. David has been great, I’ve never had advice about my career before. When you’re at college you don’t get this kind of guidance, my Dad does his best to help me, but young people need these role models and mentors and to show them what’s possible in the industry.”
Prior to this project Tom had found securing a role like this difficult, with no response from 30 companies he approached for work previously. Tom secured his current role on site with Coniston thanks to 1-2-1 Recruitment, a local agency partnering with Coniston on the project.
Tom adds …
“Being young is a barrier, you need the right contacts to get a foot in the door and young people get looked down on, if they don’t know you, people assume because you’re young you must be stupid or lazy and most people you work for just don’t have the time to invest in training up young employees on site.
Employment opportunities on Sheppey are rare and very restricted, but if you have no transport getting to work on sites in Dartford or Ebbsfleet can cost half of your wages and is just too expensive, so a project like this in my home town is just amazing.”
Looking ahead, Tom hopes that gaining site experience and achieving his NVQ will enable him to become an independent carpenter, build up his skills, invest in tools and secure work full time for a company like Coniston.