Joiner David Keyzer sets his sights on Screwfix Top Tradesperson award

57-year-old joiner David Keyzer has made it to the final 10 of the 2024 Screwfix Top Tradesperson award

A joiner from Ashton-under-Lyne is going for gold, after making it to the final 10 of the 2024 Screwfix Top Tradesperson award.

Now, David Keyzer, 57, who's been working as a joiner for 35 years will go head-to-head with nine other finalists from across the UK and Ireland. 

Beating off fierce competition from more than 1,000 applications, David impressed the judges during the semi-final interviews with his sheer passion for the trade, dedication and commitment to the industry's future. 

Keen to ensure that newly qualified carpenters enter the trade with a credible and broad skill set, David, who owns Heritage Joinery, began teaching apprentices and adults at a local college in 2006. Now more than two decades later, David is passing his skills on to second generation apprentices whose parents he once taught.

As part of his teaching regime, David emphasises that passion and enthusiasm for your work are crucial in order to reap the rewards. Sustainability is also a key part of his syllabus. As such, David ensures his students are given the correct knowledge in terms of waster reduction and benefits of using high quality materials. He also supports initiatives to make packaging more eco-friendly. 

Before the pandemic, David hosted joinery classes in his Stalybridge-based workshop, where college students came for extra tuition, which helped build real on the job experience. Outside of work, where spare time allows, David is currently building a house for his daughter.

Looking ahead to the competition, David says he'd be thrilled to win the title and would love to show the apprentices at his college what you can achieve with a career in the trade.

Having earned his place in the final, David will be hoping to take home the coveted title, along with an ultimate trade bundle of tech, tools and training worth £20,0000. The winner will also join the likes of Astrid Arnold - a Devon-based carpenter who was awarded the accolade in 2023 - in the Screwfix Top Tradesperson Hall of Fame.

Marking 15 years of the award, the 2024 Screwfix Top Tradesperson finalwill take place at Screwfix LIVE on Friday 27 September, where a panel of industry experts will put David and the other finalists through their paces before selecting this year’s overall champion.

The panel includes representatives from the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE); the Federation of Master Builders (FMB); the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC); and reigning champion, Astrid Arnold. 

Reflecting on his success so far, David comments: “I’m over the moon to have made it to the final. This award isn't just about winning; it's about celebrating the hard work and dedication that goes into our trade. I’m proud to represent Ashton-under-Lyne and all joiners out there and look forward to the final stage of the competition and meeting the other finalists.”

To find out more about Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2024, visit screwfix.com/stt.