Harvey Metcalfe, 19, left school last summer and was determined to find a career in joinery.
He signed up to study an NVQ Level 2 qualification in Carpentry and Joinery at Hartlepool College and took it upon himself to contact local employers to see if they offered apprenticeships to provide him with the experience he needed to kickstart his career.
Luckily, PHS Solutions, based in Houghton were offering apprenticeships and he was successfully appointed in December 2025 in a full time role and hasn’t looked back.
Although he has only been in the role for a couple of months, he feels he is already learning a lot. He said: “I am so eager and determined to learn as much as possible and get first-hand industry experience of learning my trade whilst gaining my qualifications at college.”
Thinking ahead in the future, Harvey said: “My aim is to get all my qualifications and hopefully work up to become a site manager. I’m really enjoying my apprenticeship at PHS and I’d recommend it to anyone looking to start their career.”
Adam Holdsworth, Contracts Manager at PHS Solutions, said: “Harvey has been a great asset to the team and is showing willingness to learn new skills whilst studying his Level 2 qualification in joinery. Apprenticeships enable people to gain on-the-job experience but also valuable life skills. It’s a win-win scenario for everyone involved.”
The company is highlighting its commitment to supporting apprentices as part of National Apprenticeship Week – a week-long celebration (9-15 February) that brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy.