- info@ibtc.co.uk
Les Flack from Essex
graduated 2009
Sure I earned more money in IT but I find it a lot more satisfying taking delivery of an old telegraph pole and turning it into a 30 foot mast.
My old IT job was slowly wearing me down, new things to learn all the time that were out of date a couple of years later. I like learning but wanted to learn something that stayed useful for life.
I only got as far as visiting the IBTC and liked what I saw and that made my mind up. It's a college but very much a working boat yard as well, there is plenty of variety of real boats to get involved with. I now have real hand skills and a good understanding of traditional boat construction, and a thirst to learn a whole lot more.
The year was hard work as I had next to no woodwork skills when I joined. You can take it easy if you want, but I was keen to get there early and leave when Nat (director of the IBTC) turned the lights out so I feel like I gained a lot. Despite the hard work it was like a year's holiday for me, learning new skills among likeminded people. I met lots of good friends among the students and staff who are brilliant.
It's early days in my new life and I haven't advertised or anything but so far I've been lucky to get involved in a few good boatbuilding projects. The skills I learnt also came in handy restoring our house. Before IBTC – sure I earned more money in IT – but now I find it a lot more satisfying taking delivery of an old telegraph pole to the back garden and spending the week with a draw knife and plane turning it in to a 30 foot mast for a classic 1940's fishing boat.