An aspiring Edinburgh carpenter has reached the semifinals of the Screwfix Trade Apprentice competition after leaving his job as the coronavirus pandemic struck.
Edinburgh resident, Jordan Mayes, 28, has wowed judges with his dedication and passion. He will go up against the UK's best apprentices which will be judged by a high achieving board who specialise in many fields of DIY.
The competition started with 1,700 which has now been whistled down to 30 apprentices including Jordan. The national final will be held in May with the winner receiving a career-boosting trade bundle of £10,000.
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After leaving school, Jordan went from job-to-job and back to education. He describes himself as the “longest student/apprentice there has ever been” as he couldn’t decide what he wanted to do for an occupation.
Some of the career pathways Jordan tried included studying nursing at university, an apprentice at Young Scot before another apprentice as a tech support specialist. He went to college, tried his hand at roofing for a while and even attempted following his dad into construction. Then he became a bed salesman which lasted only two weeks before trying his hand at becoming a building merchant.
Jordan is now currently studying carpentry and joinery at Edinburgh College with an aspiration of becoming a full-time joiner and is frilled to have been shortlisted to compete in such a coveted competition. He said: “I’m really pleased to have been shortlisted as a semi-finalist and being one step closer to the final. To be crowned Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2023 would be an incredible accolade that would help me realise my potential and pursue my dream of becoming a champion of my trade.
“It runs in the family; my dad builds houses and my two sisters’ partners also do the same so I was destined for it. I am a very creative person and being able to dream some idea then build it. Nothing compares really.”
“I just think everyone should view life as a constant learning experience and use this to improve there life. I think everyone should do an apprenticeship after leaving school especially now as there is a huge demand due to an ageing workforce.”
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Jordan first heard about the championships due to his boss making it to the finals in London and being crowned ‘top tradesman in Scotland.’ This has inspired Jordan to strive to be great at what he does.
The long-standing apprentice has many plans for the future which include putting his newly learned handyman skills to good use including making an ‘off the shelf home.’ During numerous lockdowns he got some practice in by renovating his garden which kickstarted his passion.
He added: “I'm hoping to win and hopefully use the prestige of the award to hopefully meet some business partners who would be interested to work together on my business idea.
“I am ambitious, determined and unique. My goal for the future is to make an off the shelf home that is fully sustainable, affordable and can be built anywhere in the world I feel with the current situation the world is in at the moment a home that can provide for itself and doesn't harm the planet makes sense.”
Jack Wallace, Marketing Director for Screwfix, says: “At Screwfix, we are passionate about pioneering the dedication of trade apprentices to support them in their careers and highlight the benefits of becoming a professional tradesperson. Our own research shows that whilst almost all tradespeople would recommend a career in the trade, over 90% think more should be done to encourage people into the industry.
“The annual Screwfix Trade Apprentice award is a great example of how we look to reward the future champions of the trade. Our trade apprentices are an inspiration to the next generation, shining a light on the countless opportunities the construction industry has to offer.
“I want to congratulate our semi-finalists this year, who were selected from over 1,700 applications from across the UK and Ireland. They have done incredibly well to get this far, and I hope that through this award they will help to inspire more people to consider a career in the trade. I wish everyone the best of luck and look forward to the final in May!”
To find out more about the Screwfix Trade Apprentice competition, please visit screwfix.com/sfta.
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