Category: The Apprentice & The Bee

Episode 101
The Appprentice And The Bee
Trial Fitting Treads & Risers

As part of their Advanced Craft studies, one of our 3rd Year Carpentry & Joinery apprentices is progressing through Complex Timber Stair Construction – building a staircase the way it should be built: accurately, methodically and in the right sequence.   In this photo he’s loosely fitting the treads and risers to confirm they sit cleanly […]

Episode 100
The Appprentice And The Bee
Opportunity Finds a Way

Growth often starts with a simple step.  As part of our ongoing expansion, we recently acquired the neighbouring property — creating new space, new potential and new opportunities for the future of the business.  But nature had already made its move.  One of our apprentices spotted solitary bees making use of old rawlbolt sleeves and […]

Episode 99
The Appprentice And The Bee
The Right Conditions for Skills to Grow

We were delighted to welcome Maureen Burke (MP for Glasgow North East) to our offices recently, where we presented our award-winning project, The Apprentice & The Bee. Whilst meeting several of our apprentices, we shared the local impact Fourply have built through our long-standing relationship with Glasgow Kelvin College (for over 10 years) – working […]

Episode 98
The Appprentice And The Bee
The Right Conditions to Emerge

Not all growth is visible … until the moment it happens.  These cocoons have been developing quietly over the past 9 months.  Now transferred into our hatchery drawer and returned to the Bee Hotel, they’re ready.  Positioned south-facing … Sheltered … Waiting.  Because when the temperature reaches 15°C … everything changes.  Emergence begins.  And it’s […]

Episode 97
The Appprentice And The Bee
Routed Housings & Newel Joinery

As part of his Advanced Craft studies, one of our 3rd Year Carpentry & Joinery apprentices is progressing through Complex Timber Stair Construction – turning the set-out into real components that must fit first time.  In this photo you can see a stringer section and newel posts that have been routed out and prepared to […]

Episode 96
The Appprentice And The Bee
The Bee Hotel Reopens for Spring

With winter behind us, it’s time to prepare our Bee Hotel for the season ahead.  In this short clip, one of our Apprentices carefully reinstalls the cleaned Bee Hotel from last season, securing it to the wall before sliding the nesting cassette back into place — ready for the arrival of this season’s solitary bees.  […]

Episode 95
The Appprentice And The Bee
Setting 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 Bee
Winter 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 Bee
Preparing 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 […]