Tom Smyth from Bristol has swapped life at The Community Farm in Chew Magna, Somerset for a different hands-on year as a professional furniture student.
His previous job was working for an organic vegetable box scheme, making up boxes of fruit and vegetables and delivering them around the Bristol area.
But, looking for a change, he enrolled at the Chippendale school, having already undertaken evening classes in woodworking – and realising how much he enjoyed it.
Tom explains that he enjoys making things, and he wanted a new career that he could pursue for decades into the future.
After graduation, his current plan is to seek woodworking employment, so that he can continue to learn and develop as a woodworker.
His first project is to design and make a garden bench which could be made in oak, yew, ash or redwood – he hasn’t decided yet!