The Wheelwrights’ Apprenticeship Scheme
In October 2013 The Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights approved their own apprenticeship framework to be used as the basis on which to train apprentice wheelwrights.
Administrative support for this 3-year Apprenticeship Scheme was initially provided and continues to be provided by the Livery Companies Apprenticeship Scheme. This framework then formed the basis for devising a Training Plan that set out those aspects to be assessed at the various stages of training.
The First Wave Of Apprentices
The first three apprentices under this scheme were:
- George Richards apprenticed to Greg Rowland
- Joe Fredericks apprenticed to Phill Gregson
- Tom Carroll apprenticed to Douglas Andrews
George, Joe and Tom have all successfully completed their apprenticeships.
Apprentices George Richards and Joe Fredricks are shown with the Master, Alan Culverhouse, and the Lord Mayor of London, Andrew Parmley, at the Livery Companies Apprenticeship Scheme Awards Ceremony on Monday 3rd October 2017.
Apprentice wheelwright, Tom Carroll, displays his final project piece a ‘timber nib’ that he made to one third of its normal size. The ‘timber nib’ was an implement, drawn by horses that was used to extract lengths of timber from the forest.
Tom is pictured in October 2020 with Douglas Andrews, his wheelwright trainer and John Wright, an assessor of his final project piece.
Current Apprentices
We currently have three new apprentices undergoing training with support from The Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights:
- Sam Phillips is apprenticed to Greg Rowland in Devon
- Toby Swinn and Ted Shephard are being trained at Crofords Coachbuilders in Kent.
Sam Phillips
Toby Swinn (left) and Ted Shepherd, shown here having just bonded two wheels.