to be chuffed to buggery because my 17yr old has got himself a chance of an apprenticeship!

[IrianofWay]

He's 17 and in his second year on a furniture making course. We were hoping, if he was lucky, he might get a chance to be an apprentice joiner or carpenter but lo and behold the college have found him a real old-fashioned bespoke furniture maker for work experience. And if the next few months go well he will offer him an apprenticeship. It's a hell of an opportunity and more than we thought he could hope for. I got fed up with vague promises from the college and chinese whispers via DS so made an appointment for a meeting with the tutor and the workplace advisor and got it all nailed down today. And as of this morning the employer has agreed to pay for DS's insurance and is really keen to meet him.

Christ, there's always one miserable fucker on a happy thread...

Congratulations to your son, OP.

You're right to be chuffed to buggery

That's brilliant. They are NOT easy to get, as I have to keep explaining to my Year 11s when I rant about working towards their C. DH is a carpenter and hasn't been out of work since he retrained for it 12 years ago. Even when he was a SAHD he had private work at weekends and school holidays. It's a good trade to have, and fulfilling.

Thanks all xx

I was ignoring the feline. Seemed best

They are FAR from easy to get and I'm sure your DS tutors would not have recommended him if they didn't think he was the right lad. It's a lovely sounding apprenticeship too!

Well done to your DS! Brilliant news.

Good grief a couple of really inappropriate comments on this thread!

However, back to the OP. Well done to your DS OP, he's obviously done well and it's been noticed. My GF was a cabinet maker and I still have some of his work although couldn't afford to buy it on the open market now. It's a wonderful profession and I agree with the comments on here that there's more than enough work out there. Skilled craftsmen are in short supply.

Congratulations to your DS OP! It's nice to see these trades being carried on.

Brilliant op. Good on you all.how bloody fantastic. You have given me an excuse for a on your behalf.

And about parents helping a 17 year old to get where they want to be!

thats what families do

Congrats! Great opportunity. My friends ds got one instead of uni and loves it.

Excellent news

I have a 17 year old doing As and I worry about his and his 14 year old brother's futures. It's a hard world out there.

I think that's great-IMO too much pressure is put on youngsters to go to uni where many are more suited to an apprenticeship.

My 20 year old nephew wants to be a chef and had to fight NOT to go to university as he wanted to do it from grass roots upwards.

Some people are absolute twats

Fantastic news OP. Well done to your DS.

That's great, well done to your son!

Well done son of IrianofWay! That's brilliant! Actually, here in the land of Oz, bespoke furniture commands very good prices. Imagine it's the same in the UK. He might be able to support his parents in the style they would like to become accustomed to in their frail dotage! I really think, as an aside, there is a bit of snobbery about apprenticeships these days. Apprentices are learning the skills that keep our cars going, build the houses we need etc and the list goes on. Tradies are highly skilled people, as well as running their own business often.

I work in a college that does an employability course and it's very hard to find an apprenticeship so well done to your ds.

I love my job and do my best to get each and every learner the best start to their working life, it makes me so happy to read stories like this.

Well done to your son. My daughter got some (unpaid) work experience at 16 doing something quite specialised. It led to a full time job offer and now, at 18, she has been living away from home for a year, travels around Europe for work and has a lot of responsibility. An apprenticeship in something as difficult to get into as furniture making sounds wonderful.

Wow well done! Does he take commissions yet? I could really do with a beautiful bespoke book case. Congratulations to him! x

Thats fantastic news and I know how chuffed to buggery you feel!
DS,16 is doing a plumbing apprenticeship with a large company, they wanted 3 apprentices out of 85 applicants and he was chosen and is the youngest. Chuffed wasnt the word for it,im not ashamed to say I shed a tear!
Its not easy, well done him!!

I like the phrase chuffed to buggery a bit too much.

And well done to your DS

Great news especially since secondary school didn't go so well. I am jealous I would love to be an apprentice furniture maker but not sure anyone would take me on in my very late 40's.

Lovely to hear some good news!

Super

My uncle is a carpenter. Does furniture, interiors, doors, anything with wood he can do. He does some amazing stuff for my aunts.

You're lucky to have a furniture maker in your family!

Ha! DS must be keen. He was advised to get his (long) hair cut because it might make a bad impression and be a safety hazard. In the past all such suggestions have tended to be met with arsiness and huffing.

He agreed! And made an appointment for saturday morning!

I am in shock.

And he's meeting the chap on Monday.

and

Congrats to him, you, your family! Sounds like a great path he's on, what a relief it is, when our kids find their way!