Freddie completes hat-trick for York College in Institute of Carpenters Awards

Our Level 3 Craft Carpentry & Architectural Joinery apprentice Freddie Carr has been presented with the Rainleaf Trophy as the IOC’s choice for the 2025 Third Year Student Award.

Freddie’s success follows on from David Walker winning the Third Year Robert Rampley Memorial Prize for Craftsmanship 12 months ago and Harrison Blackham also receiving the Rainleaf Trophy in 2023.

Apprentices from 55 UK colleges are eligible for the IOC’s annual awards, underlining the magnitude of such an impressive hat-trick of success being nurtured at Sim Balk Lane.

IOC President Geoff Rhodes made a growingly familiar trip up from London to present the award on Campus and joked: “I’m getting accustomed to getting off at York station with a prize in my bag!”

He also handed over a combined total of £500 in gift vouchers to Freddie from Reisser UK, Ironmongery Direct, Medite Smartply, Pallmann and Rainleaf. 

Freddie, 19, attended College on day release for the classroom and workshop elements of an apprenticeship that he served with his father’s Malton-based company Chris Carr Joinery, where he worked for the other four days of the week.  

A proud Chris, meanwhile, was quick to hail the part York College has played in his son’s national recognition and evolution as a skilled craftsman. 

“From the moment we came to have a look at the college, I thought the workshop was good,” Chris pointed out. “The staff came across really well, too, and it was just a nice facility, so I thought, ‘If he’s going to be taught somewhere, this is a nice place for him to come’.

“He’s definitely learnt as much here, as he has done at work with us and I’m really proud and quite choked that he’s won this award.”

Freddie agreed that his time at York College has seen him benefit from the combined knowledge of our expert team of tutors including Adrian Salton, Tony Mulligan and Joe Clancy – all of whom boast extensive experience of working in the industry.  

“I believe it’s very important to learn at work and in college, because you learn different ways from both,” Freddie reasoned about the apprenticeship model of training. “All the tutors have different backgrounds in terms of where they used to work and what they used to make, so you’re learning different ways of making things.

“The tuition is top class - I can’t fault it. You’re also earning while you’re learning on an apprenticeship, so it’s a great way to learn new skills and gain a career.”

Freddie added that the workshop facilities and standard of equipment in our Construction Centre enhance the learning experience.

“College have just got a new CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine too and that will be a very interesting tool for students to use,” he said. “Working with very good machinery like that can only improve your skills.”

On receiving the recognition from the IOC, meanwhile, Freddie enthused: “I can’t quite believe I’ve won the award. I put a lot of hard work into my three years as an apprentice and I’m extremely happy and really appreciative to have been acknowledged for everything that I’ve achieved.”

He is also just as grateful to now be pursuing a career that he admits feels more like being paid for enjoying his favourite hobby!

“I’ve always had a creative mind since I was young,” he explained. “I loved making things out of Lego and being creative with papier-mache and drawing.

“At school, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do career wise, so my dad offered me the chance to work for him. I thought why not give it a go and found out it was something I absolutely loved.

“It’s not just a job for me - it’s a hobby. I like producing good work and often work into the evenings and at weekends, because I love all aspects of it.”

That passion for craftmanship could eventually lead to a new branch of the family business, which currently focuses mainly on bespoke window and door replacements, as well as the “odd staircase”.

“I really like the furniture side of woodwork,” Freddie revealed. “I find it interesting and like purely using hand tools. 

“I find that very satisfying, instead of using loud, noisy machinery. That’s mainly my hobby at the moment, but we’ll see what paths I cross in the future.”

IOC President Geoff Rhodes is predicting a bright future for Freddie and, after presenting him with the Rainleaf Trophy, said: “We had a multitude of applications and Freddie’s entry was exemplary. It was detailed and demonstrated commitment.

“I really like his passion for the profession and its history and the fact that he collects old woodworking tools. The college testimony, that backed up Freddie’s entry, also made it clear that he was an outstanding student from day one. They could see he had a natural talent and an excellent attitude at an early point.”

Freddie also brought samples of a staircase he has built to the presentation, with Geoff adding: “We’ve seen that his work is of a really high standard and something that he should be proud of. Nationally, we need thousands of people with Freddie’s skills, so it brings qualified, quality and trusted craftsmen into the industry.”

Going on to celebrate the role Freddie’s tutors had played in his success, Geoff presented the staff members with their own certificate and declared: “None of this would happen without the commitment, effort, time and energy of the college and its tutors. They are a great team of people who raise the bar and go above and beyond for the apprentices they teach.”

To learn more about our Level 3 Craft Carpentry & Architectural Joinery Apprenticeship, please click here

York College also offers apprenticeship course tuition in  the following areas: Accounts or Finance Assistant; Adult Care Worker; Advanced & Creative Hair Professional; Advanced Beauty Therapist; Autocare Technician; Barbering Professional; Beauty Therapist; Bricklayer; Business Administrator; Site Carpentry; Chef de Partie; Commis Chef; Construction Site Supervisor; Content Creator; Craft Bricklayer; Craft Painter & Decorator; Cultural Learning and Participation Officer; Early Years Educator; Early Years Practitioner; Engineering Fitter; Engineering Manufacturing Technician (Electrical or Mechanical); Food & Beverage Team Member; Furniture Making Operative; Hairdressing Professional; Hospitality Supervisor (Food & Beverage); HR Support; Installation and Maintenance Electrician; Laboratory Technician; Lead Adult Care Worker; Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician; Metal Fabricator; Motor Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician; Multi-Channel Marketer; Painter & Decorator; Plumbing & Domestic Heating Technician; Production Chef; Senior Production Chef; Stonemason; Teaching Assistant and Wellbeing and Holistic Therapist.  

For a list of all our current apprenticeship vacancies, visit here

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