How many tradies do you know who did their apprenticeship after being CEO of an international company?

You know at least one now, because David Cherry did exactly that. David now owns another business, as a specialist carpenter working on heritage buildings.

“I found the building industry, and certainly the heritage part of it, and it just fascinates me.”

It isn’t easy to change industry and completely reskill later in life. Find out why David did it, and how Builders Academy Australia helped him get the qualifications he needed.

James didn’t become a carpenter until later in life. But, when he figured out that he wanted to be a builder at age 28, nothing could stop him from doing his apprenticeship and becoming a qualified carpenter.

“I’m a chippy and have been for 9 years now,” James says. “It took me a while to figure out where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do, but when I did, I applied myself, and here we are.”

A determined mindset helped James become a carpenter. Now, he’s applying that same mindset to upskill so that he can take his career to the next level.

That’s why James is doing his Certificate IV in Building and Construction at Builders Academy Australia.

One of the hardest things for tradies who want to progress in their career is finding time to get the next level of qualification while working.

“To be able to get up, go to work, do a hard day’s yakka – it’s not an easy job that they do.”

Builders Academy Australia senior instructor Tansel Alici understands this. Not only because he’s worked in the industry for more than two decades, but because he studied at BAA himself.

After many years in the industry, Tansel has some simple advice for anyone who wants to upgrade their skill set.