Pat Coll and Ryan Fosker from TMJ Interiors Geoff Rhodes IOC President with Brian Tunbridge and Kate Barnham from West Suffolk College at the prizegiving ceremony.
An apprentice from Suffolk has hit the nail on the head after being crowned the top apprentice carpenter in the country.
Ryan Fosker, 20, from Hadleigh is carving out a career for himself with TMJ Interiors.
Since 2020, Ryan has been studying on an apprenticeship with West Suffolk College.
They (the college) put Ryan’s name forward in relation to a national competition called the Third Year Student Award Scheme that is organised by the Institute of Carpenters (IOC).
(The IOC was founded in 1890 and helps oversee the standards and training of carpenters and joiners that are based in the UK).
And Ryan was chosen as the overall winner. He received the Rainleaf Trophy that was created by Andy Peters who carved the new figurehead that can be seen at the front of a revamped Cutty Sark ship in Greenwich. He also received £550.00 worth of vouchers from Axminster Tools, Ironmongery Direct, Medite SMARTPLY and Reisser UK Ltd and an IOC personal winners certificate. (The college also received an IOC certificate, acknowledging their good work).
Ryan said: “It’s a privilege to be given this accolade. They (TMJ and West Suffolk College) have both treated me like family and they push you to be more than you think you are.”
Geoff Rhodes is the President of the IOC. Geoff said: “We started the competition in 2020 and it celebrates the very best of the best. We now have 55 colleges who are IOC members so the standard this year was exceptional.
“We started the competition to celebrate the important role that student learners and apprentices have in terms of our industry and organisation - and the competition goes from strength to strength.
“Ryan stood out through his attitude, his skill of the craft, his appreciation of what he has learnt, and he also received a number of glowing tributes from the people he has worked for and with.
In terms of the need for the IOC to work with colleges, Geoff added: “There are 15,000 more carpenters and joiners needed to come into the industry in the next five years just to fill the current UK woodworking skills gap nationally. We have a real national crisis in terms of construction skills so it’s really important for us to build strong relationships with colleges and this is what we are currently doing, as well as connecting the timber industry and other trade associations into this work.”
Ryan’s employer, Pat Coll, from TMJ Interiors said: “I’m very proud of Ryan. From his first day (at work) he had a spark and as an employer that is what you are looking for.
“Our company started with three people and now we have over 200 and the main success (in terms of our employees) is the philosophy of bringing apprentices through and helping them progress - and we are very proud of that. Ryan is now on his way to a very successful career.
“It’s also great to work with West Suffolk College - they are second to none.”
Brian Tunbridge is a carpentry and joinery lecturer at West Suffolk College who has supported Ryan through his journey. Brian said: “This is the second time that one of our apprentices has been named the top level 3 apprentice in the country in the last four years and that is amazing. We’ve also had a couple of people who have come second. To get that consistent accolade from the IOC is incredible. I’m very proud.
“I also think that by Ryan getting this award shows we can compete against any other college in the country in terms of our exceptional standards - and this helps to re-enforce our recent Ofsted outstanding grade.”