Gowercroft’s Amy Boutle: Inspiring the next generation

Amy Boutle, Marketing Manager at Gowercroft Joinery, recently paid a visit to a local Junior School to speak about a potential career in the joinery sector. She explains how the visit went.

Gowercroft recently visited Glebe Junior School in South Normanton to speak with three Year 4 classes about careers. It was a light-hearted afternoon filled with big questions from inquisitive nine-year-olds asking everything from “Can you make money being a YouTuber?” to “Do clever people have to go to university?”. Yet beneath the humour sat a serious message for the joinery sector.

If we want young people to see joinery, manufacturing and skilled trades as exciting, respected and future-proof careers, we need to meet them long before they enter the workforce. We need to be part of their world and part of their conversations.

As Mrs Johnson, one of the teachers, shared: “The kids were buzzing for the rest of the afternoon after the talk. Amy drew them in with something relatable (their favourite YouTubers) and used it to have a discussion about real careers… many of our children had never heard of apprenticeships before.”

Amy also spoke openly about having ADHD and how it shaped her own journey. Mrs Johnson noted that this “struck a chord with many children, who found her story inspiring”. For an industry working hard to broaden its talent pipeline, moments like this matter. They show young people that there is no single ‘type’ of person who thrives and there are many paths to get to your ideal career.

For Gowercroft, this work complements its wider commitment to local manufacturing, skills development and investing in Derbyshire communities. It is proud to champion apprenticeships as a route that allows young people to learn, earn and build meaningful careers.

Because according to Gowercroft, the future of British craftsmanship begins in classrooms exactly like these.

For more information about Gowercroft Joinery, visit: Timber Windows – Heritage Windows – Gowercroft Joinery