Ryan Bonniface
Ryan Bonniface
Certificate in Joinery
With a long term interest in woodwork, Ryan Bonniface decided to sign up for CPIT's Certificate in Joinery so that he could kick start a career working with wood.
"I had done Materials Technology classes at school and through those had developed an interest in building with wood. I thought it would be great to actually find a job where I could work with wood and I did some research into Joinery as an option.
The CPIT course looked to be a really good start in the industry as you got to learn all the basics in the workshops there. Studying the pre-trade certificate also means you can cut six months off the length of your apprenticeship which was a bonus and as the course was free, I figured I had nothing to lose by signing up.
We learnt such a variety of subjects at CPIT and I enjoyed the whole course. In the beginning you learn how to use hand and portable power tools, how to select and use different types of timber, and which fixings, adhesives and sealants to use with them. You also get taught how to use and maintain different machines which is such an important part of your job once you get out into industry.
The learning environment at CPIT is relaxed and friendly and the tutors were all excellent. They made a real effort to help you when you needed it and treated you like an adult which was a change from how it was when you were being taught at school.
As part of the course you spend two days a week doing work experience. I worked at three different joinery companies over the course and did a variety of jobs from sanding work to helping to build an internal bridge. It was as a result of doing the work experience that I got my current job at Ambler Joinery. I’m an apprentice here now working 40 hours a week and I mainly spend my time building cabinetry and stairs.
CPIT was such a good start for me. I learnt all the basics there so that when I started work here I really had an understanding of what to expect and knew how to use the equipment properly.”