Episode 95 The Appprentice And The BeeSetting Out a Complex Stair
As part of his Advanced Craft studies, one of our 3rd Year Carpentry & Joinery apprentices is currently working through Complex Timber Stair Construction at college. On the right-hand side of this photo is a laminated timber stringer in the setting-out stage. This is where the staircase is mapped onto the timber first — carefully […]
Episode 94 The Appprentice And The BeeWinter Rest … Nearly Over
A final check on our Red Mason bee cocoons. A moistened sponge helps maintain the humidity before the container is sealed and carefully hidden within the stacked woodshed – a cool, stable place protected from predators. Soon the cocoons will move to the Bee Hotel’s hatchery drawer, where the warming spring air will trigger their […]
Episode 93 The Appprentice And The BeePreparing for the Skills Test
Next week one of our 4th Year Apprentices returns to college for a ‘Practice Week’ before undertaking her SVQ Level 3 Carpentry and Joinery Skills Test in May. The Skills Test is a rigorous practical assessment taken at the end of a Four-Year Apprenticeship, designed to demonstrate that an Apprentice can work confidently to professional […]
Episode 92 The Appprentice And The BeeA New Bee. A New Season. Our 26th Year Begins
As the first bee of the season emerges from our Bee Hotel, the sound of spring fills the air. For us at Fourply, it’s a fitting moment. The beginning of March marks the start of a new financial year – and the start of our 26th year in business. Just like this bee beginning its […]
Episode 91 The Appprentice And The BeeThe Future of Construction Is Sitting in Our Classrooms
We visited Kelvin College, East End Campus, Glasgow recently with our Fourply Bee Hotels to deliver an employer talk on “Entering the World of Work”. Across two sessions, we met with four groups: ▪ Women in Construction ▪ Youth Start ▪ Pre-Apprentice Joinery (x2) The conversations weren’t just about qualifications. They were about behaviours, responsibility […]
Episode 90 The Appprentice And The BeeInstinct, Persistence… and a Little Confusion
While we eagerly wait for this spring’s bees to hatch from their cocoons, we’re taking a moment to look back at last year’s flight season — and a lovely little moment we captured on camera. In today’s video, a female Red Mason bee returns to one of our bee hotels absolutely coated in pollen. She’s […]
Episode 89 The Appprentice And The BeeProgress in Motion
This week, our Apprentice & The Bee story shifts from the hive to the station platform, as we follow Rachel on the next stage of her development journey. Rachel joined Fourply in October 2024 as an Apprentice Estimator and much like the early stages of a bee’s lifecycle, she wasted no time getting to work. […]
Episode 88 The Appprentice And The BeeSafeguarding the Next Generation
Our Apprentice & Bee series reaches its final step today, as we prepare the last of our bee hotel residents for the months ahead. In this video, our Apprentice carefully brushes the cocoons and surrounding mud onto newspaper, separating each one before giving them a gentle clean and bath. Once dried, they’re stored safely for […]
Episode 87 The Appprentice And The BeeStrength in the Details – The Haunched Mortice & Tenon Joint
As spring edges closer, our bees are nearing the end of their winter development. Every part of their structure — wings, muscles, and protective casing — plays a role in ensuring they emerge strong and ready for the season ahead. Joinery is no different. Strength often lies in the details. This week, our Apprentices tackle […]
Episode 86 The Appprentice And The BeeStrong Foundations — Online and On Site
In today’s clip, one of our Apprentices reveals Fourply’s latest Cyber Essentials certificate — a reminder that safeguarding our work doesn’t end on site. Just as our bee hotels must provide a secure environment for each new season, our digital systems need the same level of protection. Cyber Essentials helps ensure our teams, data and […]
