A Future in Furniture
Layla Murphy, successfully completed the Furniture Studies course at HCT in 2008 and has been working for Sealine, which is currently one of Europe's largest luxury boat builders. Sealine employees are specialists in their respective fields which include everything from mould-making, to wood and metal working, upholstery, lamination, interior design and naval architecture. Layla makes several items of furniture for the T50 series, which is the 50 ft yacht Sealine produce.
Layla was born in Liverpool but moved several times, completing her A levels at Hopwood College in Middleton before going to University at Worcester. Layla then spent one year working in China before coming to HCT. Layla was unhappy in her line of work and wanted to re-train.
“I always enjoyed working with wood. My father has always had a workshop in the house. Also, my grandfather, uncle and father have all, at sometime, been employed in the furniture making industry. I’m not sure why I didn’t pursue a job in the trade. I don’t think I had the confidence to entre what can be quite a male-dominated profession. However, since I started the course and to the present day, I have only been met with encouragement.”
Question:
When asked - What would you say to school leavers / mature students thinking of studying this course?
Answer:
“As a mature student, myself and John (the other mature student on the course) were given a bit more freedom with our work compared to the younger students. I think this was down to a number of factors. We were both competent workers who expressed our ideas in a logical way and based any areas of discussion with facts and knowledge acquired from past experience. Regardless of age, the students who demonstrated flare and talent were encouraged to do more complicated designs. All students had the opportunity to push their boundaries if they wished.
The beauty of further education is that it is not compulsory - you only go if you want to. Therefore students want to be there and learn”.
Question:
How did you get the job at Sealine?
Answer:
“When I applied to Sealine I sent them photos of my work with the application. They called me a couple of days later and asked me to come for an interview. They were impressed with my photos and interested in having someone with my talents join their company. The skills I gained at HCT are what have taken me this far - now it is up to me to realise my dreams”.
Whether you are a school leaver or mature student, this course is ideal for those who wish to continue their studies and go to university, re-train for a new career or develop skills for personal interest. To find out more about the Furniture Studies course, call today on 0800 032 1986 and ask for Richard Mackley.
