Testimonials from students attending Foundation Carpentry Course

Rebecca Carey (Tyne and Wear)

Really friendly staff and instructors, and well structured courses. LOVED Peter – encouraged everyone without ever making slower members (me) of the class feel rushed or condescended to. Really cared that everyone had a quality experience.

Jack Hornsby (London)

I really enjoyed the course. It was engaging and consistently challenged me. I felt like I learnt a lot in a short period of time.

Francesca Jennings (London)

A really rewarding week. Peter was a fantastic teacher – calm, kind, knowledgeable and encouraging. The group were hard-working and positive. Friendly staff made arriving each day a pleasure. I have no hesitation in recommending The BTC.

Amy Tennant (Marlow)

This was my third course (also done Tiling and Kitchen Fitting), and thoroughly enjoyed all three. I have used the skills learnt on the courses on my own house, aswell as for clients, despite having no prior experience. I will eventually be persuing a career in carpentry and joinery after attending the course at BTC. Thank you 🙂

Helen Lewis-Baker (London)

Really pleased. Learnt amazing amount in the time, even more involved then we had expected it to be! I’m off to make my shed!

James Huggett (East Sussex)

The instructors are all friendly and happy to answer any questions, even for DIY outside of the practice, so it was very good value.

Kelan Patel (Surrey)

Martin was extremely helpful and engaged very well with the class. I am grateful for the school and can not wait for the advanced carpentry course.

Tom Wade (Surrey)

Really good. Coming from a building background, the instruction was excellent, knowledge was sublime and the course was a good investment for the future. I will be back!

Oliver Keasey (Dorset)

I was most pleasantly surprised with how fantastic the course was. So informative & the learning format of physically doing the task is unbeatable.

Ionut Goga (Neasden)

It has been one of the best courses I have attended. The information was a lot but the skills gained will be for a lifetime.

Guy Crozier-Vernon (London)

Brilliant 5 days- learnt a huge amount and great fun too. Peter is an excellent tutor and the group size was perfect. Thank you so much!

Lauren Knight (London)

AMAZING! Honestly… This course, this centre, the staff was are just fantastic. The feel, the friendliness is so welcoming and reassuring. Thank you so much, you are all brilliant. Martin, Pete, Andy, Matt, Sophie… Just brilliant!

Ben Hall (Surrey)

Second course I have attended and am still impressed.

Natalie Taylor (Surrey)

Wonderful teaching, great course content, welcoming for women. Would defo recommend.

Adis Le (Surrey)

The course centre comfortable and welcoming. The tutor very knowledgeable and patient, he’s very good on explaining the difficult jargon on building terms and tools.

Monique Banner (Croydon)

I think the course was well planned and executed. Martin is a wonderful teacher. I have learned many skills which will immediately be put to use. Looking forward to my next course! 

Ian Holloway (Hertfordshire)

Very good. This was my fourth course and planning the next already!

Yemisi Abisogun-Oriku (Kent)

Excellent all round and course instructor very helpfull.

Jo Thwaites (London)

Peter is a brilliant teacher, carefully adjusting to everyone’s level and speed. The week flew past with not a moment wasted. Thoroughly recommended (aged 66).

John Hurley (Surrey)

Very well oiled machine. Centre is well run, efficient and friendly. Nothing is too much trouble. Peter was very patient, informative and extremely helpful. My knowledge at the offset was extremely basic but at the end of the course my confidence has improved immensely and my skills had also enhanced. Recommend the centre for DIY.

Vennetta Royal (Surrey)

Fun, interesting, useful, friendly, knowledgeable – very, challenging, practical – very, learned loads. Centre – good, suitable place for learning how to use electrical tools properly – great guidance.

Maurice Samely (London)

I have a very good impression of the centre. Well organised, friendly staff, yet with a relaxed and social atmosphere.

Martin was a fantastic teacher. He shared freely of his knowledge at all times and gave more than he had to. Always a pleasure to meet a teacher like Martin with character!

Ailsa McNeil (London)

Well stocked carpentry room, learned many new skills I never knew existed. Will be using them all for my future home projects. Very happy.

Wes Gurung (London)

Very satisfied with the overall course and Martin was very helpful throughout the course. This is my fourth course with this centre and the carpentry is the one I’ve enjoyed the most. Thank you.

John Ficenic (London)

Excellent course with a wide range of topics covered to a high standard.

Tom Palmer (Kent)

Perfect level for me. Assumes no knowledge, but teaches to a good level.

Solena George (Spain)

I found the pre course info very helpful and received informative and friendly help over the telephone. I thought the centre was welcoming and inclusive. I really enjoyed the course. Martin was happy to answer all my questions and I have come away confident that I will be able to put into practice the things I learnt. Thanks to everyone!

Jason Brown (London)

Impressed by consistent level of good customer service. Refreshing to be taught by a tutor who is passionate about his vocation. Staff friendly and approachable. Facilities very clean. Peter imparted a wealth of knowledge. Fast paced and extremely practical course delivery method. Thanks. I’ll be back for further study at the BTC.

Tom Slater (London)

Excellent set-up with experienced, helpful & knowledgeable staff/trainers. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience! Martin was an excellent trainer. Supremely knowledgeable, very generous and a pleasure to be taught by. The course was exactly as described with excellent hands -on exposure to all skills.

Vicky Wasmuth (Surrey)

The centre was friendly and staff are helpful. The course was well structured and informative. I found the teaching easy to follow. The environment was very comfortable.  All questions and queries answered. Very helpful and great approachable teaching style.

Neil Allcock (London)

Excellent. Friendly, efficient and first class simple tuition. Office staff very friendly too!

Daniel Munro (Surrey)

Very impressed and a lot of useful stuff learnt.

Graham Thurman (London)

I thoroughly enjoyed the course which was both educational and a lot of fun. The centre was well run and everyone was always helpful and friendly. Peter is an absolute gentleman and all round legend.

Kelly Arnold (London)

Thoroughly enjoyed the course. All the staff I interacted with were very approachable and helpful. Martin was excellent in the style in which he taught and engaged us all.

Pippa Booth (London)

I have had an absolutely brilliant week. From starting the week as a complete novice I have grown in confidence and skill and am so pleased to have taken the course. Peter was an excellent teacher and even though I was the only female in the group I never once felt disadvantaged or treated differently. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. I’m definitely coming back – bricklaying next!

Mahua Nandi (London)

Excellent centre – everything runs really smoothly. Everyone knows exactly what they are doing.

Laurence Bolton (Surrey)

Fantastic course as always. Martin always delivers great content in an interesting way.

Abiodun Oke (London)

Very friendly centre and always available to help. My carpentry course was very well taught and well explained. An experienced I really needed to boost my knowledge and confidence.

Karl Godwin (Surrey)

You need to go on the course before you appreciate how good it is. It’s a very practical course which would be good in schools. All staff are friendly, welcoming and humorous.

Elizabeth Morales Reyes (London)

It is really good. I achieved what I wanted and more. It is practical and shows ways to do things better/ I will get back for more courses as soon as I can and I will recommend.

James Mitchener (Surrey)

Very good, clear and concise. Made sure we had got the grasp of one step before moving on.

Jeff Mash (London)

Peter is a tremendous teacher. I loved the course and couldn’t wait each night to tell my friends about it. This is my third course. Friendliness all around. The smiles and humour make a difference. I’ll be back.

Craig Hill (Devon)

Extremely impressed with the content covered. Learnt a lot of the basics and extra skills only learnt with experience from teacher Peter. Peter himself was extremely patient and an absolute joy to learn from. He was extremely polite and nothing was too much trouble when asked.

Reena Bhatt (Hertfordshire)

This is the third course I have completed here and once again, brilliant! The centre is great, staff are friendly & knowledgeable. The course covered many things and has given me confidence with working with wood, plasterboard and various tools.

Irene Miller (Bedfordshire)

Excellent centre – staff very friendly, in a great location for local amenities and course covered everything I wanted to learn and more!

Gregg Sallis (Hertfordshire)

Wonderful place. Great people and you learn a lot in a short time (very in depth). Shows you and then can work at own pace. I was happy with how accommodating Martin is extremely helpful.

Nicky Heighes (Berkshire)

Loved it. Enjoyed every minute. It was full of great advice, Peter was brilliant. I booked with The BTC as it looked the best I could get regarding what I would learn.

Sylvie Beaufils, (London)

All was extremely well organised.  The team was “super” professional and yet very friendly (it’s so important to feel welcome!)

Byron Blake, (London)

Peter gave me all the help I needed and when I got stuck, he didn’t huff and puff like the teachers at school did.  A great teacher.

Malcolm Reasons, (Middlesex)
(plastering course, advanced plastering course, bricklaying course)

Course is well-conceived and covers some very useful basics.  John is a brilliant instructor – clear, knowledgeable, motivating and humorous – a great guy!  I would recommend this course (already have, in fact) to any of my friends.

Marcus Paley, (London)

Excellent. The facilities both in the work areas and rest areas are top notch. Martin made the course easy to follow and enjoyable and took time to explain things clearly.

Wayne Boswell, (Surrey)

Good informative course with lots of content. Centre has good facilities and is well laod out and organised.

Ellen Hadden, (London)

Really fantastic! I’ll be back for more. Particularly the opportunity to talk to professional builders about personal prospects.

Ronnie Haddow, (resettlement), (Cumbria)
(plumbing course, tiling course, electrical course, kitchen fitting course, plastering course)

Peter was a very good instructor passing on a lot of good tips and knowledge.  Thank you very much.  See you soon.

Joseph Akpovi, (Middlesex)
(electrical course, tiling course, plumbing course)

An exquisite delivery of a very relevant and rich content.  I like the centre and have a keen interest in carpentry which has been furthered by attending this course.  Would recommend it to anyone, anytime.

Thomas Griffiths, (London)
(plastering course, tiling course, plumbing course)

V. knowledgeable instructor.  Learned loads of useful tips of the trade and skills.

Ms Layo Osho, (Surrey)

It was excellent – I had no experience whatsoever and now feel I can make a wide range of items.

Ms Michael Furber, (London)
(home maintenance course)

Lovely place to come and train in.  All staff always happy to help out.

Kim Yates, (Staffordshire)
(tiling course)

The course was well presented, very practical, and well demonstrated.  Just one point, Martin should pick a better football team!

Belinda Yeadon, (London)
(electrical course, Part P course, plumbing course)

Had a great time.  Peter’s teaching and knowledge are excellent.

Brian Higgins, (Fife)
(tiling course, advanced tiling course, plastering course, advanced plastering course, roof tiling course, roof construction course, kitchen fitting course, plumbing course, bricklaying course)

Don’t remember woodwork being so much fun when I was @ school!!

Bipin Uka, (Hertfordshire)
(electrical course, Part P course, 17th Edition (2382-10) course, plastering course, advanced plastering course, kitchen fitting course, bricklaying course, tiling course)

The instructor took time to explain things you got wrong, so you do not make same mistake again.  Gave good tips to make things easy.  Good value for money.

Brenda Ormonde, (Surrey)
(plumbing course)

The course was excellent.  Martin is a fantastic teacher, very patient at explaining the simple things like how to hold a saw.  I’ve learnt a lot and have a lot more confidence to tackle things now.

Darren Muir, (Kent)
(kitchen fitting course, plastering course, advanced plastering course, bricklaying course, tiling course, inspection & testing course, 17th Edition (2382-10) course, plumbing course)

This is my 4th course at the centre and so far I am 100% satisfied, and believe I am getting very good value for money.  Martin especially uses every minute of the course to make sure we get more than our money’s worth.

Suzy Coy, (Kent)
(advanced plastering course, kitchen fitting course)

Really good and helpful, value for money.  Thank you so much especially to Martin.

Donna Green, (Hampshire) – resettlement
(plastering course, bricklaying course, tiling course, plumbing course)

Exceedingly good tuition.  I expect to take the roofing carpentry course in the very near future.

Kevin Pollard, (Wiltshire)

Very good instruction.  Always clear on the objectives we had to achieve.

(Ozy) Ousman Khan,(Surrey)

Very helpful instructor and centre.  Answered many questions and explained/demonstrated clearly.

Shah-Nawaaz Zaveri, (London)

I found the centre very helpful and enjoyed it very much. Would do another course again here.

Keith Hartwell, (East Sussex)
(kitchen fitting course, plumbing course, plastering course, bricklaying course)

Great, as always

Shirley Pigott, (London)
(tiling course, electrical course, plumbing course)

Excellent course, well taught, learnt a lot and would have confidence to use the skills learnt.  Definitely recommend.

Les Lismore, (Surrey)
(bricklaying course, plumbing course, plastering course, electrical course, Part P course, 17th Edition (2382-10) course, PAT Testing (2377) course, I&T (2392) course)

Very good, very thorough course.  I found it very informative, and enjoyable, and felt that I learned a great deal.  I felt Martin’s teaching style made the subject a lot easier.

Paul Child, (Surrey)

It was a lot of fun, I learnt so much.

Ali Mirmak, (London)

Very professional approach and advice.  Also a really good laugh!!

Georgina Pearson-Gee, (London)

Excellent – very professional and training to a high standard.

Anne Higgins, (Berkshire)

Well run centre with friendly staff & instructor.  Really helpful & full of interesting info!

Kerry Van Der Merwe, (Surrey)

Very professional – I was a bit worried (more nervous) being a ‘girl’ but I need not have worried. I felt very much at home. The course was great, as was Peter, and I feel much more confidant about my woodworking skills.

Dave Jones, (Suffolk)
(roof construction course, roof tiling course, bricklaying course, plastering course, plumbing course, 4 day electrical foundation course

A very well put together and laid out course. Again with lots of help and very useful tips and hints, from a very knowledgeable instructor.

John Zarri, (Surrey)

Very pleased with my course. I feel that I have learn’t a great deal. This is my second visit here and I find it very helpful and knowledgeable.

Mark Diggory, (London)
(Plumbing course, kitchen fitting course, tiling course, plastering course, 4 day electrical foundation course, Part P course, 17th Edition course)

The centre is well located and easy to find. It’s well equipped and the staff are very friendly and helpful. The course content was very substantial and we learnt alot in a short time. The instructor was knowledgeable and friendly.

Zachary Bird, (London)
(Bricklaying course)

Second time @ The BTC. Very professional, well run and throughly enjoyable. I had a great week. Peter has the patients of a saint! I will be returning.

Shaun Seymour, (Hampshire)

Very Good. Type of place you can come to where you don’t feel like an outsider.

Rosemary Walsh, (Bristol)

Everyone very friendly and approachable from cantact before course started with Elaine to all staff when I attended. Course was brilliant. Very informative and everything explained clearly. Martin was very approachable if I didn’t understand something. Group size was good and I feel I have learnt alot.

Sheldon Hutchinson, (London)

I’m very impressed. Everything was clearly explained. Peter is patient and positive. He was very helpful with my personal project too.

Ray Brown, (London)

Very Helpful and patient Instructor. Good introduction to basic joints and essential foundation skills for site work and joinery. Overall very charming, obliging, friendly and well structured centre.

Richard Peach, (London)

Excellent – Great training centre and fantastic teaching. The office staff were all very helpful when booking and always friendly on site.

Justin Perry, (London)

Fantastic, informative and technique packed course. Martin was fantastic at explaining techniques, patient and most of all, funny!

Joanna Macgregor, (London)

Really well run and friendly. I learnt far more than I thought would be covered in this short course.

Nigel King, (London)

Brilliant. Martin’s course covered so much ground. I was seriously impressed and would highly recommend it to anyone.

Mike Foreman, (Surrey)

Informative, useful and full of real life tips, and good fun.

Steven Lawson, (Surrey)

This is my 4th course here at the centre and as always the staff and instructors are friendly and professional. Martin was very knowledgeable and made the course enjoyable.

Tim Hillier, (London)

The course and centre was very well presented. Teaching quality was to a very high standard, and good value too. Excellent overall.

Vance Day, (Surrey)

The centre was well equipped with all the necessary tools needed to perform all tasks. Our instructor Martin was excellent and explained all the techniques used very well. The course was logically thought out and instruction was superb. Would definately recommend this course and Martin – Brilliant!

Sam Whiting, (London)

The staff were incredibly helpful and welcoming. The course was excellent allowing new skills to be put to use in a useful way. The instructor was patient but pushed you to get things right. The instruction was excellent and fun. The attitude and method promoted a will to learn and questions were always welcome.

Lisa Urquhart, (London)

Fantastic. I’ve learnt so much. Course paced at the right level, but packed a lot in. Peter was a brilliant tutor who took time to explain difficult concepts and made sure everyone achieved their goals. From start to finish all the staff were exceptionally polite and helpful.

James Heath, (Surrey)

I felt the staff and the whole atmosphere around the building was very welcoming and informative. I would love to come back on a different course.

Ellen McLaverty, (Surrey)

Excellent – good pace of teaching, very practical. Teacher excellent, very pleasant and easy going.

Adam Giangreco, (London)

Excellent centre. Very well equipped and the course exceeded my expectations. Excellent experience overall.

Steve McHugh, (Middlesex)

Excellent course, very well taught by a very experienced and knowledgeable instructor who explained everything very clearly.

Robert Crayston, (Surrey)

Really Good – Learnt loads of new stuff – Corrected bad habits – Loads of advice – Really good fun – Couldn’t have been better.

Jeremy Sheldon, (Surrey)

Very good and friendly. Gets you over the fear factor of trying things on your own.

Debbie Newton-Salam, (London)

Excellent. Martin’s knowledge and experience is vast and he is generous enough to share all that he can. Very useful.

Luke Bryan-Lai, (London)

I think the centre is a great resource and a friendly place to learn good skills, both for at home or professionally. The carpentry course was more than I hoped for. Good fun, learned a huge amount and inspired to go beyond DIY and maybe try professionally.

Tim Hunt, (Essex)

Very Good course. Learnt a lot. Centre is well stocked out and laid out appropriately.

Helen Maclean, (Surrey)

Brilliant! Covered everything it said it would and learnt so many tips on how to get a professional finish.

Sara-Jane Allen, (London)

Excellent. Informative, comprehensive, understandable clarity of teaching. Excellent teacher despite his dubious taste in music….

Mike Pistol, (Surrey)

Great order of course content, learning to build a door and then using it as part of the room we later created. Peter is very patient and helpful and made sure no one got behind. Perfect for absolute beginners and not at all intimidating. Also we learnt loads in one week. This was the only course in London that I could find that is a hands-on course without loads of theory and classroom work – Excellent.

Steve Weavers, (London)

Fantastic course led by a superb, knowledgeable instructor. Never thought I would learn so much!

Sherif Elboushi, (Middlesex)

Very useful, very interesting, lots of skills, worth the value of money. Martin is very experienced & efficient Instructor.

Mark Ennis, (Surrey)

The centre have been extremely friendly & helpful throughout. All questions were answered & lots of support provided

Sharon Suppaya, (East Sussex)

The centre is well organised & welcoming. The course moves at a good pace and provides a broad spectrum of methods and skills. Thank you Peter – a very enjoyable course.

Zofia Mrugacz, (London)

Found this course very rich in information that I will use at work. This was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.

Laura Wragg, (Hampshire)

Great Centre and very good course. Lots covered and practical uses. Had a really great time, lots of fun and lots learned. Thank you.

Alex Jordan, (East Sussex)

The course was very good. It covered enough variety that a beginner like me can be set to start my own projects with confidence. On the basics of the course I’d attend more.

Steve Liszka, (West Sussex)

I think the centre is great. This is my third course and I have enjoyed it very much. Peter was an excellent Instructor.

Tamara McGoldrick, (London)

Very Good! This is my 4th course here; I am very happy with the knowledge I have gained.

Jack Darell, (London)

The centre is lively, friendly and welcoming. Seems everyone is willing to help and support. I loved the course.

Anna Eerdmans, (Surrey)

Fantastic week. Managed to cover a lot of ground! Professional centre, professional/skilled tutor. Would come back for more.

Clyde Rodney, (Essex)

Absolutely fantastic course. Provides me with another layer of DIY skills which will prove invaluable.

Andrew Harris, (London)

Fantastic. Extremely informative and a great teacher – Martin. Has inspired me to continue learning about carpentry.

Caroline Tory, (London)

Really enjoyed the course despite being inexperienced it was all explained simply and made it very user friendly. Thanks!

Neal Heasman, (Bedfordshire)

Great course. It was run really well, the staff are friendly and help is always to hand. Martin help build a lot of confidence and skill and would highly recommend.

Trevor Dacosta, (Kent)

Been on a few courses and always find the centre professional and a friendly environment. The carpentry course is well taught and has lots of useful content.

Balvin Pearce, (Surrey)

Very good, comprehensive with the confidence to undertake foundation and higher carpentry skills away from the centre.

Jo Munford, (Hampshire)

This was a really fantastic course. I have never learned so much in 4 days and felt such a sense of achievement. Really enjoyed. Thanks.

Marcus Simmons, (Oxfordshire)

Brilliant. Wanted to do it again!

Neil Pemberton, (Surrey)

I have really enjoyed the course. We covered so much and I’m raring to put my new skills to work. The facilities are good, better than expected and the staff are friendly & helpful. Peter, the instructor, is a credit to The BTC.

Nicholas Voniatis, (London)

Very impressed with the facilities and equipment provided. There was lots of support from Peter (The Tutor). He was very helpful and I would definitely recommend this to anyone.

Efrain Lopez de Castilla, (London)

Great to learn a new skill and the teaching was easy to understand. I will recommend this course to everyone.

Allan Pasco, (Surrey)

Very Good. Peter has been a great tutor and was always enthusiastic and willing to help. Great course.

Lorraine Roberts, (London)

Great course, amazing tutor. Can’t fault anything. Everyone is so supportive and friendly.

Darren Alexander, (Surrey)

Thought that the centre and facilities were great. Also the course and subject matter covered was excellent.

Colin Wells, (Surrey)

Another Excellent course from The BTC. Peter is a great tutor.

Leandro D’Andrea, (London)

Well kitted out and supplied. Friendly atmosphere, great instructor. Super simple booking forms and easy access. Martin’s energy and passion is contagious, mild mannered teaching with loads of encouragement.

Devinia Noel, (London)

The centre was easy to find. The course was challenging but enjoyable. Martin was supportive when I struggled and gave me the confidence to succeed.

Carl Ellis, (London)

The course was absolutely excellent. So well structured, taught and carried out. Enjoyed every minute and learnt loads. Thanks Peter!

Alyson Baker, (London)

Fantabulous!! So much info on both joinery and carpentry. I feel ready to go and build my own house!

Jess McFarlane (Surrey)

Thoroughly enjoyed the course and would like to thank Martin for his impressive teaching techniques. His tips and tricks will put me in good stead for the future. I look forward to attending another course.

Leanne Rigby, (Hertfordshire)

Absolutely excellent. The centre is accommodating and friendly and not intimidating to women. The tutorial is clear, not too fast, but covers a lot of material in a fun and engaging way, the content is relevant and useful. Exceeded my expectations. First extra curricular course I have ever completed. I have slight learning disability and I usually give up before I finish.

Richard Smith, (Kent)

Course exceeded expectations. Centre was very professional. Enjoyable learning experience and environment. Definitely recommend to anyone. Full of useful tips and knowledge. Martin was extremely helpful and made the course interesting and full of great content.

Christine Budhan, (Surrey)

(Plastering course, Advanced Plastering course, Plumbing course, Bricklaying course, Tiling course, Advanced Tiling course)

Yet again another fantastic course, lots of information and skills have been learnt in 4 days.  Very practical and have had to use some problem solving skills.

Ruby Cameron, (Surrey)

(Tiling course, Plastering course)

 An informative, action packed course.  Martin is a real character – is passionate about carpentry and teaching.  Picked up lots of tips and gained confidence to have a go at home.  Thanks!  BTC as organised and well run as ever.