David Smith
Age: 48
Trade: Construction Operative
Borough: Tower Hamlets
Apprenticeship: Level 2 Construction Operations
Background: David was on an apprenticeship before he came to K10 but was unable to complete this due to his employer going bust. This is where David was referred over to K10 by Berkeley Homes and started a new apprenticeship in Construction Operations. Before the apprenticeships, David found it hard to get into sustainable employment for many reasons but one was due to lack of qualifications.
During the Apprenticeship: David was placed on his apprenticeship with FDL in Tower Hamlets and spent the duration of his apprenticeship here. ‘I really enjoyed everything about the 
apprenticeship. I enjoyed going to college once a week to learn the technical side of what I was learning on site and then being on site to put into practice what I was learning at college. It was a huge learning curve but it was so enjoyable, learning new things from those who are really experienced and taking this on with me. There were no negatives in the apprenticeship for me. I would have liked the college course to be compressed and more intense but that is just personal preference.’
‘FDL was a great experience for me, there are a lot of lively characters that I worked with and it was a lot of fun. The work I was doing was great too. I learned shuttering carpentry, steel piling and digging trenches, I really liked being on site. I’m still learning now and I believe I will always be learning, 
construction is always developing and new methods are always coming around.’
‘I will and do recommend apprenticeship to anyone looking to do one. I think they’re the way forward, you’re getting paid to learn, and it’s great. K10 were brilliant, I had regular communication with my Apprenticeship Manager Jack and he was always helping in any way he could. K10 got me into a position where I am good money and can better my life. I was made homeless and have been living in a hostel and now I am looking to move out the hostel and rent somewhere of my own soon.
After the Apprenticeship: Since completing his apprenticeship, David has been taken on direct full time as a shuttering carpenter for FDL.
