- 01642 456167
- |
- info@erwltd.co.uk
- |
- Brochure
- |
- Blog
- |
- About
- |
- Colour Chart
This article was published on November 28, 2019
An apprentice joiner from Billingham has been named best in the UK by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF).
Bailey Donkin, aged 20, took home the award at the 2019 BWF Awards in London for his outstanding work, creativity and importance to the team at ERW, where he is currently completing his apprenticeship.
Bailey joined home improvement and restoration specialist ERW in 2017 and secured permanent apprenticeship following the collapse of Carillion where he was training to be a site carpenter.
The role has allowed him to continue his work-placed training on large projects such as the restoration of timber windows and doors at Auckland Castle, Stewart Park and Pendower Hall in Newcastle.
During this time, he has also completed his NVQ Level 2 apprenticeship and progressing in his NVQ Level 3 apprenticeship at Redcar and Cleveland College.
Bailey, who is currently working on the £250k restoration of Manchester’s iconic London Road Fire Station, said: “I’m so pleased to be named as Apprentice of the Year by the BWF and have my hard work recognised, especially ahead of some really talented apprentices from other parts of the UK.
“I’ve always been interested in joinery and carpentry, and ERW has given me the chance to do it as a career. I’ve learned so much about the technical skills of joinery in terms of renovation and restoration, and it’s great to be out site working as part of the team.
“For anyone thinking about a career in joinery, I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship as a way to build a career.”
Phil Tye, Operations Manager and Bailey’s mentor at ERW, said: “We’re all delighted that Bailey has been awarded best apprentice. He’s a natural talent but works so hard to learn new skills and continually meets high standards.
“It’s been a pleasure seeing him grow as a joiner and as a person during his time at ERW. He’s a real credit to himself, his family and his profession.”
Bailey is one of six apprentices currently training with ERW and the second celebrating success, after Marketing and Administration apprentice Sophie Pallister won Apprentice of the Month with her provider iTec.
The company plans to welcome four more apprentices to the team by the end of 2020 as part of its ongoing commitment to invest in the younger generation.
Phillip Wall, Commercial Manager at ERW said: “As a family run company we pride ourselves on nurturing young talent and employ apprentices with a view of them joining us full-time once they’ve completed their studies.
“Investing in apprentices is an important part of our long-term vision. We’re in a specialist industry that relies heavily on the skills of an older workforce. Supporting young people is critical for the future of our company, but also joinery as a trade.”
Timber windows naturally provide a beautiful, timeless aesthetic, instantly bringing warmth and character to any home. They offer the ideal foundation for creating a stunning festive display that can give your home that sought after cozy Christmas feel this time of year. As the days shorten and the outdoor temperature drops, our windows transform into […]
Upgrading your windows is one of the most effective investments that you can make in your property, particularly during the colder months. Outdated or poorly performing windows are often the common cause for heat loss in a home, making rooms feel draughty and inconsistent in temperature, whilst also raising your energy bills. Often, you won’t […]
There’s a common belief among heritage homeowners that you can’t improve your heritage home – let us introduce you to vacuum glazing. Whether it’s the tight constraints of planning permission, or a reluctance to hinder the visual appearance of listed buildings, heritage homeowners are often reluctant to attempt to renovate their home in any regard, […]
A superb job! We’re really delighted with all our new windows. We’d like to thank ERW very much.
The installation team of Craig, Aarron and Joe were very professional, worked well together and got on with the job efficiently to complete everything ahead of time. They were very polite and communicated well with us about the job in hand and the time scale, and we were impressed that they cleared up so well each day before leaving. We would like to thank them for all their workmanship, advice, help and good humour.
The quality of the items made off-site was very high. The 7 windows look really good, they operate well and the finish is excellent. Hopefully, next winter’s gas and electricity bills will show the benefit.
From our initial contact with Stuart and our visit to the showroom, through the technical survey by Andy and the co-ordination by Sophie and Jeff, to the final installation, we’re more than happy with the whole process. We’re so pleased that we chose ERW for our continuing efforts at improving our 115-year-old home. We will certainly come back for the final stage of work on our windows in due course.
Mr and Mrs C, Darlington
From the first visit right through to the final fitting we felt confident in the expertise of the company which had been endorsed by the finished installation of a lovely window.
Mr & Mrs W, County Durham
Thanks so much for excellent service, so happy with new door, it’s exactly how I wanted it to look . Everyone at ERW was so helpful and informative from start to finish, I will definitely recommend to all friends and family.
Kathryn N
The guys have done an absolutely fantastic job and we’re extremely pleased with the speed at which they’ve delivered and the quality of the work they’ve done. Please pass on our thanks for a job really well done – we just love the difference that they’ve made to our home.
Miss S, Norton
Brochure Download
We're not able to carry out installations in your postcode area, however, we can still design and create your door, and you can liaise with a local fitter in your area to install it.
Close