Nottingham Carpenter Wins Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2022

• Apprentice carpenter, Alex Avis, claims top spot in nationwide competition
• Alex impressed with his long-term vision, drive to create an inclusive industry and love of the trade community
• The Screwfix Trade Apprentice winner receives the title and the ultimate £10k prize bundle including tools, technology, and training

Screwfix has found its champion: carpentry and joinery apprentice Alex Avis from Nottingham has been officially crowned Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2022 and he believes it will change his life.

Alex, 26, was presented with the coveted award during a virtual final in April (28th) where he competed against nine other high-calibre apprentices from across the UK and Ireland.

Alex faced (and wowed) a panel of esteemed industry experts, including representatives from Screwfix, the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC), the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), and Dan Lloyd who was Screwfix Top Tradesperson winner in 2021. Alex convinced them he was the right finalist to receive the £10k prize bundle, made up of tools, tech and training.

Selecting the winner was a difficult task, but Alex nailed the top spot thanks to his long-term business goals, love of the trade community, and commitment to create positive change in the industry.

After Alex left school, he went to university and then headed into the corporate world with a 9-5 job. However, he realised that it wasn’t the right life for him, so he quit to retrain. Then, the pandemic hit.  

During this time in lockdown, he discovered his love for carpentry by carrying out DIY projects at home and watching YouTube tutorials for hints and tips. He started studying Level 2 site carpentry and joinery at Derby College, and now, Alex has been practising his trade on site for over a year where he loves the camaraderie between tradespeople.

Alex said: “Winning this award is the best thing that has ever happened to me. This whole competition has been an incredible experience and the rest of the finalists were exceptional.

“I love everything about being in the trade, from the sense of camaraderie on site – the on-site sing song and communal cup of tea – to meeting customers and the rewarding feeling when a job is done to the highest standard. By winning this competition, I feel a great responsibility to have a voice and educate people about the industry, to create positive change.

“When I switched career from an office to a building site, I was welcomed into the trade community with open arms. I want to break boundaries and use this platform to shout out that everyone is welcome here, no matter their age, sex or anything else. I’m looking forward to building my business and hope to encourage more people into discovering that this is a job for them too.”

Alex impressed the judges with his three-, five- and ten-year plan. In the short-term he wants to learn more from his colleagues and get a distinction in his course. He then aims to reach long-term goals of building a successful company, working on historical renovations, with a team of apprentices and other tradespeople working with him.

As part of the process, the apprentices also had to design a tool of the future. Alex came up with an ingenious waste management robot to keep a site clean, saving valuable time and ensuring each site or customer home looks tip top.

Jack Wallace, Director of Marketing at Screwfix, said: “Apprentices are the lifeblood of the industry, and we know it’s in safe hands with people like Alex and our other finalists coming through the ranks.

“We were really impressed with Alex’s ambition for the future and his professionalism. Seeing the role he wants to play in changing perceptions around the industry completely matches our passion at Screwfix for celebrating trade champions and because of that, we are proud to announce Alex as our 2022 winner. I’m looking forward to seeing where this accolade will take his career.”

To find out more about this competition, please visit screwfix.com/sfta.

Source : Screwfix

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