City and Guilds Craft Certificates for Machine Technology and Advanced Craft Technology; Grinders and grinding wheel safety certificate. Followed courses in Efficiency Awareness, Quality Management and Safety at Work training days.

Sole proprietor of small carpentry business. Running every aspect of the business single-handed, from raising estimates and invoices, to organizing and working in conjunction with professionals from associated trades in order to provide a complete service. This also involves drawing up plans, preparing accounts, liaising with suppliers, and keeping up to date with current safety regulations.

Domestic work has included sash window renovation; installation of internal and external timber doors; fitted wardrobes; the design and construction of many unique items, such as: pine bifold doors; mahogany front doors; integrated home offices; a child's playhouse; bay window seats; bookcases; various styles of cupboards; wall paneling; van storage units; plate racks.

Commercial work has been equally varied, including: complete refurbishment of local dentist's laboratory and reception; refurbishment of the bar in an Indian restaurant; sash window renovation.

Switching from a factory environment, working as part of a team, to being entirely self-sufficient and in charge; gaining the trust and respect of clients through quality of work and professional integrity; learning basic and advanced computer skills.

Employed by Samuel Elliott and Sons Co., Ltd, Reading:

Served an apprenticeship at Reading College of Technology, and Company works. Attained the City and Guilds Craft Certificate for Machine Technology and Advanced Craft Technology, proving competence to a high degree in Machining Skills, Carpentry Skills, Timber Technology, Technical Drawing and Design.

1983-1992

Full-time operative with Samuel Elliott and Sons Co., Ltd (now Trollope and Colls Joinery Ltd, part of the Trafalgar House conglomerate), a Company known for its excellent work in refurbishing many high-class establishments and utilities. Personally involved in quality joinery work, utilizing and developing skills in all areas of woodworking, including timber selection and treatments, and seeing to completion many projects and contracts.

These included:

Cabin furniture for cruise liner QE2; wall paneling for Lloyds of London; large area partitions and refurbishment for Heathrow Airport, Terminal 4; complete hotel interior, including bedroom vanity units, solid-core doors, reception desk and stairways for the Dorchester Hotel, London; specially-designed seats for an office furniture company; lift linings in the Kumagi Gumi building (now the Prudential offices), Kings Road, Reading.

Studied at the former Alfred Sutton Boys School (now Reading College of Technology). Examinations passed: 'O' level: English Literature, English Language, Mathematics; CSE: Woodwork, Physics, British Constitution, Geography and Geology.

Studied for, and passed, the City and Guilds Craft Certificate for Machine Technology and Advanced Craft Technology (see above).

PERSONAL DETAILS

Date of birth: 3 February 1963.

Marital status: married to the lovely Gillian.

Health: excellent.

Interests: playing drums for a local blues band; cooking; reading; cinema; theatre; cycling; and I attend St John and St Stephen's Church, in Reading.

1992-1993 After being made redundant due to Company downsizing, spent time cycling around Europe with an American Adventure Holiday team, before returning to England to attend business courses and set up my own business.

Other abilities include: a working knowledge of Word, FrontPage and Word Perfect; clean driving license with 23 years' experience; practical experience of most manual jobs.