Episode 61 The Appprentice And The Bee First Flight Of The Season
A special moment in our journey of The Apprentice and the Bee – the very first Red Mason bee of the season has homed-in on our hand-built hotel to begin its vital work. After months in hibernation, this tiny but determined bee emerges at exactly the right time, perfectly aligned with the arrival of spring […]
Episode 60 The Appprentice And The Bee Welcome Rachel – The Newest Apprentice in the Hive
We are delighted to welcome Rachel, the latest member of the Fourply team, as she begins her journey as an Apprentice Operations Administrator within our Estimating Department. Rachel has already begun her journey, working towards an SVQ Level 3 in Business and Administration. With six-month training blocks and the chance to grow at her own […]
Episode 59 The Appprentice And The Bee The Final Flight Test
This week marks a key milestone for our 4th Year Carpentry Apprentices as they return to college to prepare for their Skills Test – the final challenge on their journey to becoming fully qualified tradespeople. It’s the culmination of 4 years of learning, dedication and hands-on experience. The pressure is on, but so too is […]
Episode 58 The Appprentice And The Bee Ready to Emerge
At first glance, it might not look like much is happening in this photo – just two small Red Mason bee cocoons. But inside each one, a fully formed adult bee has been developing over the past 10 months, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to emerge. That moment is now, as spring temperatures rise […]
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 […]
