Jamil Rahman
Age: 25
Trade: Carpentry
Borough: Tower Hamlets
Apprenticeship: Level 2 Site Carpentry
Background: Before discovering K10, Jamil was unemployed on Job Seekers Allowance. He was studying at the Building Crafts College in Stratford and gained Diplomas in Level 1, 2 and 3 Bench Joinery. However, as he did not have the NVQ element, he found it difficult to find a job as a full time carpenter. This is where he applied to K10 and started on his Level 2 Site Carpentry Apprenticeship in his home borough of Tower Hamlets.
During the Apprenticeship: ‘Moving site every few months is something I really enjoyed about the apprenticeship. It was a good way for me to experience how different site supervisors preferred tasks to be completed on site. The more people I met and worked with, the more experience and skills I picked up. I was able to learn different ways of doing jobs and had access to a huge variety of work to complete my NVQ. If I ever didn’t know anything, they would show me and help me learn it. My first site with K10 was a Hill Partnerships project called New Union Wharf, where I worked with PGM carpentry. I was the least confident I had been, especially since I had never had a job before in general. I made a lot of mistakes on that site but the Hill site managers didn’t ever put me down, they would encourage me to improve my work and not get disheartened by these mistakes. I spent the majority of my apprenticeship on Mulalley’s Watts Grove project, in Tower Hamlets. During this time, I worked with Corbyn doing formwork for a short period and then with Maplewood, where I was exposed to all the internal carpentry works. I really enjoyed this project as I became a lot more confident with my work and I saw everything happen from start to finish.’
‘If I could go back to the start of my apprenticeship, I would invest myself into the college element earlier and work harder to get it done quicker. I think it’s important for anyone starting an apprenticeship to know its fine to make mistakes, that’s what you’re there for. Make your mistakes here on site as a trainee and then you will be able to learn from these when it comes to the real world. Look to your supervisors for help, that’s what they’re there for and don’t just assume, always check, you’ll get it done first time round. I had one issue throughout my whole two year experience with K10 and it was sorted as quickly as it could have been. Jack, my apprenticeship manager, was supportive in every way possible. He often visited me on site and it was always progressive and he always made sure I was comfortable working on the site I was on.’
After the Apprenticeship: Since completing his Level 2 Carpentry apprenticeship with K10, Jamil has been taken on direct by Maplewood Carpentry as a self-employed carpenter. He is still working on site in Tower Hamlets earning £400 a week!
