Many people try several careers before finding the one that's the right fit. For Jake, that journey eventually led him back to tiling — a trade he first experienced as a teenager and is now deciding to fully commit to.
If you’ve been following Able Skills’ blog for a while, you’ll know that showcasing student journeys is something we love doing. We think it’s incredibly important to share these real-life examples, highlighting the many reasons people want to train and where they’re planning to take their skills on the next step of their journey. We hope it inspires others to take their first steps.
Continuing our Student Stories series, this time we catch up with Jake.
Jake recently did the NVQ Level 2 Tiling course. He started it back in June – he’d joined the part-time training so he could do it on weekends. This gave him flexibility; he could carry on working while training.
“I did the wall and floor tiling course because it is a trade I laboured for a couple of times when I was a kid and enjoyed it. Tried multiple other avenues other than trade work as a career, but none worked out, and I decided I was going to commit to a career in the trade.”
Jake wanted to take this new career seriously, so the Level 2 course (City & Guilds 6219-08) was an ideal choice – it would allow him to increase knowledge and skill while training part-time, and be NVQ-ready, improving his prospects for employment.
“I did this course to give myself some skills to show to a potential business to increase my earnings through improving my skill set and knowledge.”
We often see people come back to a trade due to the appeal of practical and creative work. It is the creative side of tiling in particular that appeals to Jake.
“I enjoy the creative aesthetic side of it. Tiling is a trade that if you get wrong, everyone notices. Mistakes happen, and it really tests your accountability to own mistakes and create or attempt flawless work.”
The NVQ Level 2 Tiling is a challenging course that takes students from basic tiling skills to precision and complex tiling techniques. But it didn't just teach skills; it changed the way he viewed his own work. The flexibility of the weekend training meant Jake could at once apply what he learned to his work during the week.
“I enjoyed it all. The course challenged me, and I found the eye for detail developed quickly and changed my outlook on my own work during the week.”
Learning from an experienced, time-served tiler gives students valuable insight into both the trade and industry standards. Jake was taught by Ryan, whose years of hands-on experience helped guide students with practical advice, confidence, and real-world knowledge
“Ryan is the main instructor. He is a genuine wall and floor tiler. Having started as a stonemason apprentice, he grew up with a keen eye for detail and before long found himself tiling. 30 years later and he is passing on his knowledge onto the next gen.”
Many people come back to their careers in the trade. Choosing professional training can help boost confidence and gain industry competence. Why choose Able Skills?
“Affordable while still being backed by City and Guilds.”
Follow Jake’s journey on Instagram @tileandtub
If you’re ready to commit to a career in tiling like Jake did, practical training is a great place to start. Find out dates and details about the NVQ Level 2 Tiling today.
Tiling