Celebrating National Tradesmen Day

It’s National Tradesmen Day – and for us, it’s time to recognise the amazing team we have here at Brookeswood.

Their skills, experience and knowledge mean that our timber doors, windows and staircases are the very best in the business, and we are proud of what our team achieve here every day.

But what does it take to be a good joiner/tradesperson? Who better to talk to us about that than our Founder and company namesake, Neil Brookes, who started his joinery journey while he was at school, aged 14. After going to college to officially study joinery, gaining experience in the joinery industry, he originally launched Brookeswood in 2009, a family business that has never looked back.

What first made you want to become a joiner?

I knew from an early age that it was what I wanted to do. My grandad was incredibly handy—he was always building things—and I loved helping him after school. Later, I found out my other grandad, whom I didn’t meet until much later in life, was also a joiner. So, it turns out it was in my blood.

Can you remember the first piece you ever built?

At 14, I got an after-school job with Sigleys, the funeral directors, making coffins. I worked there every day after school, as well as weekends and holidays. At 16, they offered me a full-time role, but I left when they wouldn’t let me attend college—I knew then I wanted to build a career, and for tha,t I needed to officially learn the tricks of the trade.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in your career?

You have to know how to work with people—how to manage them and bring out the best in them. As a business owner, you also need to understand every element of running a company: sales, marketing, HR, employment law, financials, regulations, and even how to deal with tricky customers. It’s all part of the job.

But what makes a good joiner?

For me, it’s something you should feel passionate about and a trade that you really want to do. If you are practical, are good with your hands, have a willingness to learn, pay attention to detail, and have a little bit of patience, you could make a good joiner.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in joinery or craftsmanship?

Have a dream and take small steps to work towards it. Take every opportunity for work experience and learn from the people around you who are already working in the industry.

And finally, what would you say to your team of joiners here?

Simply, thank you. Our team here are fantastic. They are extremely skilled, work incredibly hard, and I’m very proud of the products we make at Brookeswood.