Episode 77 The Appprentice And The BeeOne Year On – A Proud Moment That Still Inspires Us

One year ago tonight, our apprentices proudly took to the stage in Nottingham to receive the Training Initiative Award at the Construction Awards of Excellence 2024. These awards recognise the outstanding achievements of contractors, tradespeople, designers and innovators across the UK — and it was a true highlight to see our apprentices representing Fourply and […]
Episode 76 The Appprentice And The BeeA Mast Year for Acorns – and Apprentices

Every few years, oak trees produce an exceptional abundance of acorns – a natural event known as a mast year. It’s nature’s way of securing the future: by producing more seeds than ever, the oak increases its chances of survival and renewal. This year, we’ve noticed a bumper crop of acorns carpeting the woodland floor […]
Episode 75 The Appprentice And The Bee Still Buzzing — Even as Autumn Sets In

Whilst most of nature begins to slow down, some bees are still hard at work – taking every opportunity to pollinate before the colder months arrive. In this video, this south-facing shrub is alive with activity — a mix of different bee species, each focused on the task at hand. Their determination, even at this […]
Episode 74 The Appprentice And The Bee All Aboard – Welcoming Karly to Fourply!

Just like stepping onto a train for the first stop of an exciting new journey, our latest apprentice Karly has officially begun hers with Fourply. Karly has already made a strong start on her apprenticeship journey, where she’ll be gaining hands-on experience while working towards her Modern Apprenticeship (SVQ Level 3) in Business and Administration. […]
Episode 73 The Appprentice And The Bee Three Chambers, Three Journeys

Back in spring, we opened the door of one of our Bee Hotels to discover three newly emerged Red Mason bees, resting in their own chambers — pausing before the next phase of their journey: laying the foundation for the next generation. This week, we see a similar story unfolding at Fourply. Three of our […]
Episode 72 The Appprentice And The Bee Lessons in Looking Closer

At first glance, this striking insect might be mistaken for a butterfly. Bright, colourful and full of character – it certainly catches the eye. But with a little more knowledge and experience, we learn it’s actually a Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata). Proof that taking the time to pause, look deeper and check the details can […]
Episode 71 The Appprentice And The BeeFall Down, Get Back Up – The Season of Perseverance

In this week’s episode of The Apprentice and the Bee, we caught a quiet but powerful moment: a Red Mason bee, loaded with pollen, misjudging her landing into one of our bee hotels – slipping, stumbling… but then rising and trying again. It’s a small reminder of a big truth: progress isn’t always a straight […]
Episode 70 The Appprentice And The BeeCarving Out a Future – Anna Steps Up

Meet Anna — captured here carefully routering a timber door as she returns to college to begin her Advanced Craft in Carpentry & Joinery. With three years of hands-on learning behind her, Anna is now ready to sharpen her skills even further — tackling complex, high-spec joinery work that demands both precision and creativity. This […]
Episode 69 The Appprentice And The BeeBuilt for Success – New Seasons, New Structures

In this week’s episode of The Apprentice and The Bee, one of our apprentices installs a hand-built bee hotel onto a south facing stone wall – a simple structure with a powerful purpose. Fittingly, as this new bee habitat awaits its first residents, our Apprentices are also returning to a familiar structure of their own: […]
Episode 68 The Appprentice And The BeeBack to College – Crafting the Next Level

Meet Jayden – pictured here fine-tuning his skills in the workshop as he prepares to take the next step in his apprenticeship journey. Over the coming weeks, Jayden and one of his fellow apprentices will begin the Advanced Craft course in Carpentry & Joinery — a major milestone for those with two years’ experience under […]