Joinery Apprenticeship Case Study: Luke Yates-Smith

Aspiring apprentice Luke Yates-Smith, 16, has found his feet in Joinery after a few months with PM Training. He talks to us about his apprenticeship with local joinery firm, Franklin and Jameson. 

When did you start at PM Training? 

I came to PM Training straight after leaving school in July 2018. I went to St. John Fisher and wanted to start straight away. I didn't want to wait until September as I wanted to get straight into finding an apprenticeship and earning some money.

Have you always had a passion for joinery? 

Yes. I did it in school and it's something that I really enjoyed and still do. Being able to make something is really satisfying. You can watch the project you are working on develop. 

What made you take the apprenticeship route after leaving school?

I never really fancied going to College. I felt there was a lot of pressure relating to college and the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

I know a lot of my friends have gone to College to do the same thing as me. I don't feel Colleges particularly specialise in apprenticeships like PM do. I did a taster day with PM when I was in Year 10 and that was really the decider for me.
I really enjoyed it. The prospect of being in another 'school-like' environment really wasn't for me. 

I didn't want to wait until September as I wanted to get straight into finding an apprenticeship!

Tell us about your apprenticeship?

I started my apprenticeship in joinery not long before Christmas of 2018, a few months after joining PM Training. It's with a Stoke-based joinery firm called Franklin and Jameson. I'm really enjoying it at the moment. We go into a lot of show homes and fit things like skirting boards, loft hatches and door frames. It's brilliant experience.  

Have you enjoyed your experience with PM Training so far? 

Oh yeah definitely! It's been great. It's such a benefit getting paid every week. I think a lot of young people don't realise that if you do an apprenticeship with PM you get paid for being in centre. The benefits are brilliant! 

What are your plans for the future? 

I really want to stay with Franklin and Jameson and continue doing joinery as a permanent full-time position.
With lots of hard work I will have to see where it takes me! 

If you are like Luke and have a passion joinery then why not check out our apprenticeship vacancies? Or you can book to attend our next open day and see how our pre-apprenticeship programme can kick start your career.