Ben Tidswell – The Apprentice

We're very big fans of the apprenticeship system and for a business like ours, where we are looking for craftspeople with a real eye for detail and the ability to work to an exceptional standard, it allows us to really understand the person and the skills they have - but also how far we think they can go.

Ben Tidswell, 21, from Spixworth, Norfolk is our latest team member to complete their apprenticeship via TrAC and Norwich City College, and has proved his worth across many of our more recent projects.

For Ben, this experience on the Job has been invaluable. "I have been lucky enough to work on the Windsor and Sandringham projects, as well as Whitlingham Broad and Coombe Abbey, to name a few.

I've also been lucky to have Jack Coleman as my mentor through the project. The course I signed up for was the Level 2 NVQ Carpentry and Joinery, which on reflection, was a misjudgement, as much of the work I had to do to complete my apprenticeship was work that we never do at CAP.CO. Jobs like fitting a staircase, windows or doors may be everyday jobs for site carpenters, but not for us. But then again, I've had the chance to work with Oak from the Royal Estate and help create magical play spaces!

To get over the line, the team helped me create some of the projects I needed, in our own workshop, so I could complete the course. I'm very thankful for that and it's great now to be fully qualified.

Speaking to Ben about the apprenticeship system, he said "It has been great and whilst it took longer than it should have done because of the type of work we've been doing. If I had opted for the Joinery NVQ it would have been much quicker process altogether, as all of the work would have been relevant to CAP.CO. But, what's done is done and that's behind me now.

Along the way, I have learned masses of skills and tons of experience in different areas. It's made me a much more rounded joiner and I think I really understand the materials I'm working with and learned to work as part of a team.

I did initially think that A Levels and university were the route for me. But a few months into studying Maths, Geography and Product Design, the call to joinery was just too strong and I switched. Looking back, I'm so glad I did. It was exactly the right thing to do."