Category: The Apprentice & The Bee

Episode 57
The Appprentice And The Bee
Preparing to Take Flight

This week marks an important chapter in The Apprentice and the Bee.  Our 4th Year Carpentry & Joinery Apprentices are back at college, refining their craft as they prepare for their final challenge – the Skills Test. This crucial assessment is the final step on their four-year apprenticeship journey, where precision, focus, and experience come […]

Episode 56
The Appprentice And The Bee
Springtime Development

As our 4th Year Apprentices focus and practice for their final Carpentry & Joinery Skills Test assessment, our Red Mason Bees are also preparing for their next big milestone – the start of their flight season.  In this video, we carefully transfer over 220 cocoons from their overwintering spot in a sheltered woodshed, into our […]

Episode 55
The Appprentice And The Bee
4th Year Apprentices – Skills Test Training

Our 4th Year Apprentices are back at college, sharpening their skills and preparing for one of the most significant milestones of their journey – the Skills Test.  This timed and formal assessment is designed to measure the knowledge, expertise, and craftsmanship they’ve built over the past four years. It’s no small challenge – every cut, […]

Episode 54
The Appprentice And The Bee
Hotels Ready for Delivery

Over the winter months, our Apprentices have been hard at work constructing our latest batch of Bee Hotels, now ready for delivery!  Handcrafted with care, these hotels not only showcase our Apprentices’ growing technical skills but also serve as powerful educational tools. They symbolise the vital role both Apprentices and Bees play in development and […]

Episode 53
The Appprentice And The Bee
Crafting a Legacy – 4-Panelled Door Construction

In their 1st Year of Carpentry & Joinery studies, our Apprentices take on the challenge of creating a traditional 4-panelled door entirely by hand. From drafting their own drawings to producing a detailed cutting list, this project sharpens their understanding of joinery terminology, techniques, and practices – essential skills for a future in the trade.  […]

Episode 52
The Appprentice And The Bee
The Puzzle of a Bee’s Flight

Awareness is the foundation of success, whether in the journey of our apprentices or the flight of our bees.  Attached is an interesting excerpt from Cassell’s Book of Knowledge (from 1933) entitled ‘The Puzzle of a Bee’s Flight’.  “Perhaps you have noticed the extraordinary skill of many insects in whirling and darting and swooping through […]

Episode 51
The Appprentice And The Bee
Celebrating our 25th Year of Building & Growth!

This month marks the start of our 25th year in business! Over the years, we’ve built more than just structures – we’ve built lasting partnerships, nurtured talent, and laid strong foundations for the future.  This handcrafted bee hotel, built by our Apprentices, represents Fourply as a business, while our solitary bees symbolise the people who […]

Episode 50
The Appprentice And The Bee
Pitched Roof Construction – Teamwork & Foresight

Our 2nd Year Apprentices are taking their Pitched Roof Construction project to the next stage, focusing on sheeting their roof and completing key finishing details like soffits in preparation for fascia boards.  At this stage, teamwork and foresight become crucial.  Apprentices must carefully consider the trades that will follow their carpentry work, such as leadwork, […]

Episode 49
The Appprentice And The Bee
Overwintering – Storing Cocoons

After being carefully cleaned and dried, our Red Mason Bee cocoons are ready for safe storage to ensure their survival through winter.  In this video, you’ll see 223 cocoons placed in a sealed, recycled plastic container with a few ventilation holes punched in for airflow. To maintain the right level of humidity, we’ll include a […]

Episode 48
The Appprentice And The Bee
Crafting the Flat Roof Dormer

In this stage of their journey, our 2nd Year Apprentices are tackling the intricate components of a flat roof dormer within their traditional pitched roof project – a challenging yet rewarding milestone in their 4-year Carpentry & Joinery coursework.  One key feature they’re mastering is the construction of ‘firring pieces’—tapered timber strips designed to create […]