Sometimes in your career you can find yourself on a path that isn’t quite right for you, and it takes a lot of courage to steer yourself back in the right direction.
That's exactly what happened to Liam Cleaver, a Plastering apprentice from Stockport.
At the start of this year, Liam discovered a passion for fibrous plastering, a decorative plasterwork technique that is typically found in heritage sites.
Liam said: “I’d never been shown how to do fibrous work before but someone who specialises in it came in for SkillBuild and I gave it a go. When I was doing it, I quite enjoyed it because it’s a bit different and it’s challenging.”
Liam realised he wouldn’t be able to explore this area with his former employer and so around a year into his apprenticeship he sought out a new employer. He reached out and spoke to specialists in this area to identify an organisation that would allow him to develop these specialist skills and he secured a new role with Gazelle Plastering Services.
Liam said: “The heritage side wasn’t something I’d be able to do where I was previously, but it makes up a large amount of work with my new employer, so it was a no brainer. I wanted to take the risk while I could and luckily for me it has worked out better than I could have ever imagined.”
Liam added: “I've always been a hands-on person so the idea of going to college or university was never for me, but physically doing something that I enjoy is what drew me towards plastering.
“I wouldn’t call it a breeze, but my tutor Paul has always made sure that everything is broken down so it’s manageable and easy to understand, which I’ve found massively helpful. I’ve always had access to all of the resources I’ve needed and Paul has always been there to help with any questions.”
Liam’s brave decision to change employers part way through his programme to make sure that he was developing the skills he wanted for his career is admirable and demonstrates his commitment to the sector and his development.
He is now excelling in his role, and his employer is extremely happy with how he has transitioned into the company and his attitude towards learning and development. He was also awarded Level 2 Learner of the Year Award at the Construction Apprenticeship Awards earlier this year.
Reflecting on the awards, Liam added: “Just being nominated and going to the awards was great in itself, but then actually winning it was even better and goes to show that my hard work has paid off. It was good opportunity to speak to people in the industry and make contacts, especially at a young age, that could potentially open new doors.”
Liam added: “There’s such a demand for people in construction at the moment so if someone is considering a career in the sector, I’d say just try it. I believe you’ve got to try everything once and if you don’t like it then you know for definite, but if you do then that’s even better.”
If you’re interested in a career in plastering, or you’re an employer who is looking to recruit an apprentice, find out more about our Plastering programmes:Courses
