Connor - ‘After a childhood spent running around steam fairs and evenings buried in a box of Lego, I soon realised I had a knack for understanding mechanical systems and a passion for making. This later led me on a path to study mechanical engineering at college while volunteering at South Devon Railway. This was followed by a degree in product design, where I fell in love with the philosophy behind our interactions with objects. This has sparked a real desire to make things more efficient, and I’ve been able to exercise this through tool and jig-making. Over the last 17 years, I have been expanding my knowledge, honing my skills, taking genuine pride in overcoming obstacles, and thinking far outside the box to achieve my goals. I feel most at home when operating machinery; I treat it as an extension of my body. I have dedicated thousands of hours to learning the art that is manual machining and won't give up until I reach my physical limits.’

Wayne - ‘My career started on the building site where, over the years to follow, I picked up every trade that passed my hands and attempted to master them. I was fortunate to have a mentor during my younger years who taught me the value of patience and quality craftsmanship. I took this mindset along with my multidisciplinary skillset to pursue a self-employed career in property maintenance, where I was able to provide a one-stop service to my local community. Before taking an early retirement, I had spent the last 2 decades working within the heating industry as a technician for a boiler manufacturer. Here, I excelled in fault-finding within electro-mechanical systems and offered tool-based solutions for the engineers on the road. I have always loved Victorian engineering, Brunel being a huge inspiration to me during the pursuit of becoming a self-taught machinist. While still working, I slowly built up a collection of tools and knowledge in the hope that I’d be able to offer the boys the opportunities that were out of reach during my time. Now we have the chance to do something we all love so dearly, together as a family. The job shop is a combination of all our hard work, knowledge, and dedication to the industry, and I hope to leave a legacy for future generations.’

Finley - ‘It wasn't until I laid my first bead that I knew welding was a career for me. Volunteering alongside my dad and brother at the railway, I was lucky enough to gain some experience from the very talented welders I had once witnessed stitching a loco boiler together. This left me with a hunger for the trade, and I later enrolled in the apprenticeship scheme at Babcock. Here, I attended college to study theory and was later responsible for carrying out maintenance and overhaul tasks on the HMS frigates stationed at the Dockyard. I dedicated extra time during night school to improve my skills, and now, I split my time between the job shop and my day job, where I have since gained my certificate in structural welding. I continue to push my development across a spectrum of disciplines, welding processes, and materials. Last year, I invested in two new welding tables to aid in my fixturing, and I hope to see your ideas come to life on them.’