A former Bench Joinery Apprentice from Solihull College & University Centre is growing his business by mentoring and employing a current bench joinery student.
22-year-old Harry Scolding has always wanted to work in joinery. He completed his Level 2 and then Level 3 in Bench Joinery at the College’s Woodlands Campus – giving him the skills and experience he needed to set up his own company, HDS Joinery.
Alongside running his business, Harry was selected to represent Team UK at WorldSkills Lyon 2024 where he took home a silver medal.
Now his business is growing. He is in the process of extending his workshop and is working on several projects having recently completed work on new build homes in Knowle.
Harry has also taken on a current carpentry student from the College, Alex Sharpe, on a freelance basis. The continued links to the College are proving invaluable. Harry comments: “My former tutor Arron Ward has been my mentor and is always looking for ways to help my business. He often tells me about students who are looking for work. I think it’s really important to encourage the next generation of talent. We all know there is a large skills shortage, and joinery is one of those skills that needs to be reignited. Taking on Alex was a positive step in that direction.”
Alex Sharpe is just finishing his Level 2 in Carpentry. He comments: “It’s great to work alongside someone like Harry who already has his own business. It’s so inspiring to see what he’s achieved, and he’s taught me to push myself to be the best I can be.”
Harry has also recently been a judge at the recent SkillsBuild event which was held at Dudley College earlier this month.
