Find out why teacher Pam took up the tools and trained in not one, but over six different trade subjects, why she continues to choose Able Skills, and how she plans to use her newly acquired skills.  

Whether it’s for a new career in construction or to take on a DIY project at home, when you offer the variety of construction trade courses that we do here at Able Skills, we find that it appeals to a diverse range of students for many different reasons. We really enjoy hearing and showcasing the stories behind the students – what brings them to Able Skills and why they want to learn new skills in construction. We hope it inspires others to do the same!

Next up in our Student Stories series, we catch up with Pam, who's been somewhat of a regular in the centre over the last year or so and returned in August for the Kitchen Fitting course and the Natural Stone Tiling course.

But that’s only the most recent courses! Previously, Pam was with us to do the City & Guilds Tiling Course and the City & Guilds Painting & Decorating Course, as well as a property renovation course covering plastering, tiling, plumbing, carpentry, decorating and bricklaying.

As she tells us, it was the challenge of learning something new and the prospect of gaining the skills to work on her own home that motivated her to start learning trade skills.

Pam is standing in front of fitted kitchen units wearing work boots and a blue dress.

You’ve come to Able Skills to do a few courses now, which are the most recent ones, and why did you choose to do them?

The last two courses I completed were the Kitchen Fitting and the Natural Stone Tiling courses during the last two weeks in August. 

I had originally researched kitchen and bathroom-fitting courses earlier in 2024, with the aim of completing a course over the 6-week summer break, as I’m a teacher. 

I am a practical person and love learning new things but also wanted to learn the skills to enable me to replace my own kitchen and bathroom and perhaps install another elsewhere in the house. 

Initially, I enrolled on the 6-week Property Renovation course but when talking to the carpentry tutor Dave about kitchen-fitting, he told me that a course was in the pipeline and to put my name on the list. 

The natural stone tiling was a refresher and progression from the City and Guilds in Tiling I completed last year.

What is it about learning kitchen fitting and tiling that appeals to you?

I love the challenge of learning a new process with lots of different steps, but the design aspects and creating the finished look really appealed to me. 

I also loved the idea of saving a fortune on installation and tiling costs and knowing how to complete even simple tasks like attaching and adjusting cupboard doors.

Which parts of your courses have you enjoyed most?

Without a doubt, the most enjoyable aspect of kitchen-fitting was learning how a kitchen came together but also the sense of achievement at learning how to use the tools required for the job: I learned how to use a jigsaw, router and track saw. 

I enjoyed the pressure of laying a slate floor to a deadline before the adhesive went off – I like a challenge.  As I’m patient, I also liked taking my time and paying attention to the details such as alignment and making close cuts. 

I also enjoyed acquiring the ability to see errors in work as I went about my everyday life and getting a buzz from taking many, many pictures of tiling work.

Has anything in any of the courses surprised you?

I’m always amazed at how much you can learn in one week, even from scratch, which is testament to the organisation and the instruction at Able Skills and their ability to motivate their students.  You can achieve anything if you put your mind to it and listen!

How have you found the instruction and other students?

Dean (kitchen-fitting) and Ryan (tiling) were both great fun, very knowledgeable, with a positive attitude towards questions in developing our understanding of the process, why any mistakes happened and how to rectify them. 

All tutors have all worked in their respective trades for a long time and were keen to share their knowledge and experience, giving tricks of the trade and advice on how to start up. 

A lot of the students were eager to hear stories of the time spent in their own trades and, because both tutors were very open to sharing their experiences, this was the icing on the cake and made it even more enjoyable.

What do you plan to do with your newly learned skills, now that you've finished?

I intend to use these skills to reconfigure the layout of my own kitchen, install it and add the finishing touches with some herringbone tiles. 

As I’ve learned how to use various tools, I will have more confidence when approaching the City & Guilds in Carpentry and Joinery next year.  I have always wanted to take up carpentry as a hobby, so this is my plan for 2026 and maybe even do some advanced courses in other areas.

Can you tell us about the other courses you’ve done?

I completed week-long introductory courses in plastering, tiling, plumbing, carpentry, decorating, and bricklaying.  After enjoying the tiling course and the learning environment so much, I enrolled on the City & Guilds in Tiling and then the same with the City & Guilds in Painting & Decorating, I think because I enjoyed the attention to detail required in both trades.  I spent three months almost continuously at Able Skills late 2024 and it was lovely to be back again this year and see all the familiar faces at the centre.

When you were looking into doing your first course, what was it that made Able Skills stand out from other training providers?

I looked at three different providers but picked the nearest because it was a six-week course and needed something I could attend from home.  I looked at the breakdown of each course which allowed me to compare details on what I would learn, how much it would cost and videos I could watch to see both tutors and students in action.

Is there anything you’ve found challenging about training?

As a woman in a male-dominated environment, it did take some getting used to, but because I meet lots of different personalities and approaches in teaching, I wasn’t phased at joining each course even though I had to continually get out of my comfort zone. 

I did worry about how I was going to complete the carpentry course when my measurements in plumbing had been rather dodgy but I was immediately put at ease and it ended up being my favourite course.  The support from everyone was great, from tutors and office staff alike. 

There are far too many stories to tell about my time in the centre but because connections were built up over the months with both staff and students, it felt like my second home!  I look forward to my next course at the centre!

Pam is hoping to return to Able Skills in 2026 to do the City & Guilds Carpentry Course.