This article was published in February 2019
Meet Reid, 20, from Aberdeen and find out more about life as an apprentice joiner at the Queen's Balmoral Estate in Scotland.
Reid:
I'm Reid, I'm 20 years old and I'm an apprentice joiner at Balmoral Estate. Very simply, a joiner puts two pieces of wood together in order to build something. As joiners, we make a variety of things from big to small in the workshop. We do a lot of constructing tables, which take a lot of skill, making chairs, shelving for properties. We might be working in the castle or working around one of the 80 holiday cottages or homes that we have on the estate. Balmoral Estate is where the Queen comes to in the summer. It's the Scottish home of the Royal family. I find working in and around Balmoral Castle really cool. Looking at different skills which were used in the past on staircases, windows, it shows me the amazing level of joinery work on show. It's really good to be making my mark on history here at Balmoral where loads of tourists come from around the world each year. It shows read amazing level of joinery work on show. It's really good to be making their mark on history here at four more were loads of tourists come from around the world each year. You're always working somewhere where someone can see what you've done.
A special moment for me in my apprenticeship was making dining room tables for certain members of the Royal Family. They were really appreciative for the work that we had carried out and the time and effort that we had gone to which gave me a real sense of achievement. During my apprenticeship at Balmoral estate, I have taken away a very high skill of joinery work from the two estate joiners and the clerk of works.
Colleague:
Reid came to us with a great deal of experience from his family business beforehand. Hence Reid has to sometimes jump on the digger, the dumper truck. We occasionally have to clear out drains and tend to water supplies.
Reid:
A recent, on-site task which we produced was the construction of a big storage shed, which I had involvement in from start to finish. Coming to work everyday and making something with my hands makes me very proud and it's really good to see your work put in to use. Also, ensuring the comfort and safety for the Royal Family is a real privilege.
The work I do, reminds me of what I am capable of making with my own hands.
- A joiner is someone who makes and repairs the wooden elements of homes such as staircases and shelves
- Reid left school at 16 and got his first job in his family's woodworking business
- He now works as an apprentice joiner at the Balmoral Estate - the Queen's home in Scotland.
Reid is currently an apprentice joiner. Another name for a joiner is a carpenter. The information below outlines what joiners/carpenters can expect once they are fully trained.
What to expect if you want to be a carpenter
- Carpenter average salary: £17,000 to £38,000 per year
- Carpenter typical working hours: 40 to 45 hours per week. You could also work on occasional evenings and weekends.
What qualifications do you need to be a carpenter?
You could get into this role through a college course, such as a Level 2 or Level 3 Diploma, or a T-level (England-only). Alternatively, you could become a carpenter through an apprenticeship.
Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service, GOV.UK.
This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the National Careers Service website for the latest information and all the qualifications needed and the GOV.UK website for more on T-levels.
For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: National Careers Service (England), nidirect (Northern Ireland), My World of Work (Scotland) and Careers Wales (Wales).
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