Rather than train apprentices in-house, Aylesbury-based bespoke furniture maker Simon Taylor is reaping the benefits of a 3-year partnership with Rycotewood Furniture College in Oxfordshire – he tells Tim Wallace how and why it works.
Q: Tell us more about the apprenticeship scheme
A: For one week in every 7 our apprentices are at Rycotewood and the rest of the time they’re with us in the workshop. I attended the college back in 1980 so it’s close to my heart. I’ve found that if you try to take in staff to train apprentices, they sometimes haven’t got the patience to teach the fundamentals, like sharpening a plane or cutting a dovetail, but the college teaches them these basic skills.
One of the reasons I’m doing it is to insure my company, which is now 39 years old. It’s also very fulfilling. One of my apprentices, Lorenzo Dell’Aquila, is outstanding and was a finalist at the Young Furniture Makers Exhibition held recently. He’s on a Level 3 course at Rycotewood and will end up with a good job.
Q: How concerned are you by the industry’s skills shortage?
A: I can’t believe that some fitters can only just about put a cupboard on a wall. You need to learn hand skills using a plane and a chisel. So I’ve found using apprentices has worked really well. I’ve worked with the college for 3 years. I think it’s the only scheme of its kind. The course is growing and we’re looking at doing a fitting course, hopefully starting in January or April next year. We train people as cabinet-makers, we don’t run production lines. You don’t just sand panels all day, the work is very varied. It’s a good environment and all the apprentices get on well. It’s just trying to get other larger furniture manufacturers of this world to do more.
Q: Are you worried staff will eventually move to a competitor?
A: Absolutely not. I’m in it for the long game. They can always come back to us, and they bring a wealth of experience. I don’t understand why people think apprentices should stay with the same firm forever; it’s madness.
Q: Are you surprised your idea isn’t being embraced more widely?
A: Yes! I’ve found a formula that works and I can’t believe I’m the only one who’s thought of it. But the industry is only out for themselves; they want to know what’s in it for them. It’s 'dog eat dog' but it doesn’t need to be like that. Companies moan that they can’t get good staff. That’s because nobody’s training people are they? I’ve seen something others don’t. I think it’s one of our biggest paybacks. I’ve always employed apprentices or young people. But the industry isn’t putting into it so why are they surprised they’re getting nothing out?
Q: Tell us more about your approach
A: We’re starting to go into schools now and give them a talk on what we’re doing. I’m also working with Business First to bang our drum and make people aware of it. We also write to schools and let them know about our open day where we invite apprentices or anyone who’s interested. We invite them to bring mum and dad so they buy into it and see where their son or daughter is coming to work. The skill is recruiting the right person with fire in their belly.
Q: Do you find students are more interested in interior design qualifications than training to be furniture-makers and installers?
A: Yes and the difficulty is parents push people into going to university when they don’t want to. They can end up not completing the course or in debt. Everyone thinks you’ve got to be academic but there’s nothing wrong with being good with your hands. You can earn a good salary, so our motto is 'earn while you learn'.
Q: How easy would it be for other kitchen firms to embrace the idea?
A: It’s not difficult. As a minimum it’s a few letters to your local school or an open day. We place articles in the Bucks Herald. It raises the profile of the industry and our business. I can lose projects on the flip of a coin. These added values help you get your company over the line.
Q: Can you help kitchen firms find apprentices?
A: Yes, I’m not keeping this secret. I get oversubscribed so I can put them in touch with Rycotewood. I’m also talking to Damian Walters at the BiKBBI to see if we can progress this.
Q: How would you encourage the Government to lend support?
A: It’s not about giving grants; they’re so difficult to apply for. So I’ve come up with a solution where a company can get a corporation tax break. It provides an incentive to take on an apprentice. You only do it if you’re compliant so it doesn’t cost any money. It’s a win-win and you can’t afford not to.
Q: Without apprentice schemes and incentives like this will the skills shortage only get worse?
A: Yes – what people don’t realise is that most fitters are between 50 and 65. In the next 5 years they’re all going to be retiring. We need to be jumping on this really quickly. If they think they’ve got a problem now it’s really going to multiply in the next few years.
Q: Can an independent installer make a good living?
A: When I started, they would do everything. The difficulty now is Gas Safe and Part P with the electrics. The way we got round it is we employ electricians who are Simon Taylor staff. But old school fitters can conquer the world. Instead of just retiring, it would be great if some of them could spend an occasional week training people and passing on their experience. The one thing I’ve learnt is it’s really nice to give. I find that more fulfilling than anything else. It’s giving back your experience to the next generation. But the problem is it’s going to be a lot tougher to get young people interested, despite it being a brilliant industry. I’ve never worked a day in my life, because I’ve found something I enjoy doing. It’s a fashion industry now. You make 3 big purchases in life – a house – a car – and a kitchen.
