Celebrating success

Callum Quigley named Apprentice of the Year 2025

At Howard Brothers, we’re proud to celebrate the success of our very own Callum Quigley, who has been awarded Apprentice of the Year 2025 by Rycotewood Furniture Centre.

Callum joined Howard Brothers with a clear vision—to be challenged, to learn, to grow and to ultimately become the best version of himself in the workshop environment. From day one with us, his passion, determination, and commitment shone through.

We were thrilled to support Callum through his apprenticeship, which balanced technical study at Rycotewood in Oxford, along with hands-on experience in our own workshop. The experience has benefited all, as we’ve seen Callum grow into a confident, talented joiner who makes a remarkable contribution to our business every day.

Graduating with a Distinction in his Level 3 Bespoke Furniture Maker Apprenticeship, Callum’s achievements have now been recognised at the highest level with this prestigious award. It’s a fitting reflection of his hard work and the skills he has developed during his apprenticeship.

“After four years of hard work, leaving Rycotewood with this award is the perfect send-off. I owe a great deal to Josh Hudson and Faith King, who continually pushed me to reach my full potential, and to my Works Manager at Howard Brothers, Mark Bewick, whose guidance has also been instrumental in my development.”

Why Apprenticeships Matter

The construction industry continues to evolve rapidly, and the demand for skilled professionals has never been greater. Apprenticeships provide a vital bridge by passing on the expertise of traditional craftsmanship, whilst ensuring the next generation are equipped with the skills to flourish in the modern world. 

For us at Howard Brothers, supporting apprentices is about more than training; it’s an investment in the future of our Company and the wider industry as a whole.

The Role of Rycotewood College

Founded in 1938 and now part of City of Oxford College, Rycotewood has long been recognised as one of the UK’s leading centres of excellence for furniture education. With its reputation for producing some of the finest makers in the country, it was the natural choice when Callum began his apprenticeship journey.

By earning this award, Callum joins a distinguished community of Rycotewood alumni whose skills and achievements are respected across the industry. We are proud to see him carry forward that tradition, and even more delighted to welcome him back full time to our team in Battle—where his new role will see him continue to strengthen our valued relationship with Rycotewood.

Callum’s Future

Since his graduation, Callum has been invited by the Directors of Howard Brothers to take up a new position as Apprenticeship Leader alongside his Bench Joiner duties. This new role will help monitor our future apprentices as they progress on their own Rycotewood journey, offering them further guidance and attention whilst at work.

In Callum’s own words “My ambition is for Howard Brothers to be recognised as a place where the finest future joiners and makers are nurtured and developed. In the next 5–10 years, I want our apprenticeship programme to stand as a benchmark of excellence—renowned across the industry for shaping exceptional talent and setting new standards for craftsmanship”.