Whether you’re looking to explore a potential new career path, or simply want to pick up some valuable DIY skills, introductory trade courses can be a useful investment for a variety of reasons. 

These short, intensive courses are designed to equip beginners with the skills and knowledge needed to tackle basic domestic tasks with confidence. 

Despite being one of the oldest professions on record, carpentry is a skill set that remains highly valuable. For anyone wanting to learn the entry-level skills required to tackle common carpentry tasks, an introductory course could be just the thing. 

What practical skills does the course teach?

Spread over five days, the Introduction to Carpentry course, which is accredited by City & Guilds, has been designed by qualified, time-served experts who call on in-depth experience to ensure the learning package covers a range of essential skills.

This includes building an understanding of how to safely use common carpentry tools, such as chisels and planes. 

The hands-on course tackles several typical carpentry tasks that you can expect to encounter around the house. This includes things like installing new locks, fitting a door into a lining or frame, and properly cutting and fitting architraves and skirting boards. 

Being able to complete this type of work yourself offers obvious financial benefits, and also means you’re not tied to the often busy schedules of qualified tradespeople. For reference, the average single-day rate of a carpenter in the UK is £300, and Able Skills’ Introduction to Carpentry course, which equips you with genuine lifelong skills, is just £475. 

Using an introductory course as a springboard for a new career

For anyone considering carpentry as a potential career switch, an introductory course is a great way to get an early idea of whether the sector is right for you.

If you complete the beginner course and decide that you do, in fact, want to go on and obtain your carpentry qualifications, you may be able to upgrade to a more advanced training package. 

For example, if you decide you want to complete your Level 2 NVQ in carpentry, Able Skills can transfer what you’ve learned so far over to this new course, meaning you’re not being taught the same thing twice. We can also deduct the fees you’ve already spent on the introductory course, making the process both as cost and time-effective as possible. 

You can find more information about Able Skills’ Introduction to Carpentry course online, here.