In the latest in our series of interviews with tradespeople, we caught up with apprentice Victoria Pirozzolo to find out how determination and a hunger to learn is shaping her career in carpentry.
How did you get into your trade?
I got into kitchen installation through a hands-on route. While visiting a family member, I spent a few days helping out in their workshop, and from that moment I wanted to know more. When I returned home, I did everything I could to get into a trade.
I started in a Wickes store colleague role, gaining exposure to tools, products, and how trades actually work in the real world. Before that, I picked up site experience with a garden company. While much of the work was lawn mowing, there were small pockets of carpentry that confirmed I was heading in the right direction.
I applied for multiple apprenticeships without success, so I took the store role with a plan: learn the products, understand the materials, and hopefully meet a carpenter looking for an apprentice. That’s when I discovered Wickes offered apprenticeships, and I saw kitchen installation as my route into carpentry.
Kitchen fitting combines precision, problem-solving, and craftsmanship – which really suits me. Becoming an apprentice has given me a solid foundation and the opportunity to learn the trade properly, from the ground up.
What’s the most challenging aspect of being in the trades at the moment?
One of the biggest challenges is managing timelines when things don’t go to plan — especially when products are damaged, delayed, or unavailable — while still maintaining a good client relationship.
There’s also a high expectation for quality and finish, which is absolutely right, but it means you have to be switched on at all times and adaptable when problems arise. Learning how to troubleshoot, problem-solve, and stay calm under pressure is a massive skill to develop in the trades.
How do you keep up to speed with regulation changes?
I learn a lot from experienced tradespeople on site, through briefings, and by asking questions whenever I’m unsure. I also keep up with industry guidance and standards, particularly around kitchen installations and how they interface with electrics, plumbing, and safety regulations.
As an apprentice, I’m keen to build strong habits early and make sure my work is always compliant and safe.
How do you keep up with new tools and products?
I stay curious. I pay attention to what experienced installers use on site, ask why they prefer certain tools, and take the time to learn how new products should be installed correctly.
Kitchens are constantly evolving – different systems, fixings, and finishes – so learning new tools and products is part of being professional in this trade. My time working in store definitely wasn’t wasted.
What’s the best thing about working in the trades? And the worst?
The best thing is the satisfaction of seeing a finished kitchen that you’ve helped bring together from start to finish. Knowing that people will live with and enjoy your work every day is incredibly rewarding.
The worst part can be the physical demands and long days, especially when things run late – but that’s part of the job, and it’s manageable when you take pride in what you do.
What advice would you give anyone wanting to become a carpenter?
Be curious and ask questions. Listen more than you talk, and don’t rush the learning process. Focus on getting the basics right — measuring, accuracy, and attention to detail.
Be reliable, take feedback well, and show that you care about quality. Use college as a place to test, develop, and make your mistakes, so you’re not making them on site.
What job or work have you done that you’re most proud of?
I’m most proud of projects where I’ve been involved in more than just the kitchen installation itself. On one job, we installed a panoramic window that required a steel lintel to be fitted, this meant learning to erect scaffolding and working with other trades. By the end of the project the amount of light it brought into the space was incredible, it transformed the whole feel of the property , I knew I wanted to learn more and go further absorbing as much knowledge and experience as possible.
That said, I take pride in the day-to-day work too – units lining up properly, clean finishes, and everything working exactly as it should. Even as an apprentice, contributing to a high-quality finished kitchen and knowing I played a part in it is something I’m proud of every day.
Contributors
Lucy Dixon (author)
Lucy leads on InstallerBUILD content, as well as engagement for InstallerSHOW. She has a background in journalism and a wealth of experience in events, publishing and social media.
