{"id":15149,"date":"2026-08-22T02:39:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T02:39:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=15149"},"modified":"2026-08-22T02:39:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T02:39:39","slug":"school-dropout-ditched-university-for-carpentry-apprenticeship-now-earns-50000-at-21-targets-100000-in-five-years-and-says-ai-wont-replace-his-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=15149","title":{"rendered":"School dropout ditched university for carpentry apprenticeship, now earns \u00a350,000 at 21, targets \u00a3100,000 in five years and says AI won’t replace his job"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Hugo Helms left school at 15 and chose carpentry over university, now earning up to \u00a350,000. (Photo: SWNS)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A 21-year-old school dropout who ditched the traditional university route for a carpentry apprenticeship is now earning up to \u00a350,000 a year, saving to buy his first home and aiming to reach \u00a3100,000 within the next five years.Hugo Helms, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, had once expected to follow the conventional path of A-Levels and university. However, he changed his mind at 15 and decided to pursue a career in the trades instead.Hugo is now a fully qualified carpenter running his own business. He describes leaving school as the \u201cbest decision\u201d he has ever made and believes he would not have the life he has today had he spent three years studying for a degree.<\/p>\n

Hugo felt school was a ‘waste of time’<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Speaking to SWNS, Hugo said he excelled at school, achieving high grades and studying in the top sets. University initially seemed like the natural next step, particularly as many of his friends were planning to attend Portsmouth University.However, a Year 9 drama lesson changed his perspective. Instead of doing something practical, the class watched Billy Elliot and discussed the theory behind what they were watching.\u201cI was in a drama class and instead of doing something practical we were watching Billy Elliot and describing what we saw and all the theory behind it,\u201d Hugo said.\u201cI just had this overwhelming sense that I was just wasting my time.\u201dHe subsequently told his parents that he wanted to pursue a trades apprenticeship instead of continuing towards A-Levels. His parents supported the decision, and Hugo left secondary school before completing his education at home.\u201cI spoke to my parents that I wanted to do a trades apprenticeship instead of my A-Levels, and they were all for it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

From homeschooling to carpentry<\/keyword><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Hugo sat his GCSE exams in Maths and English, which were the qualifications he needed to begin an apprenticeship. He passed both with Grade 5s, equivalent to a B.His father, Nathan, 57, is a successful business owner who sells taps and also runs a spray-paint finishing company. He encouraged Hugo to take up the opportunity to enter the trades.Hugo was then homeschooled by his mother, Lisa, 55, a part-time sales assistant, for a year before starting his carpentry and joinery apprenticeship in 2021.However, the idea of university had not completely disappeared from his mind. With his friends heading to university, he admitted that the prospect still seemed attractive.\u201cAll my mates were going to Portsmouth University and it was attractive,\u201d Hugo said. \u201cI could have had a great laugh for three years doing a psychology or sociology course.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now earning up to \u00a350,000<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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The 21-year-old carpenter says his hands-on trade gives him peace of mind in the AI era. (Photo: SWNS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Almost five years later, Hugo has completed his Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications and is running his own carpentry business.His work includes building traditional Victorian cupboards and bespoke wardrobes, as well as fitting large spiral staircases, floating balconies, kitchens and roofs.The tradesman can now earn up to \u00a350,000 a year and says his work has given him a sense of responsibility and independence.\u201cI feel like an adult and I am treated like one too,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat I am doing now has such a huge level of responsibility, and in fact, actually matters.\u201dHugo believes the consequences of his work are very different from those of an exam at university.\u201cIf you fail a university exam, who does it affect, only yourself really, but if I don\u2019t fit a new roof and it blows away in a storm, I\u2019ve misplaced a family,\u201d he said.\u201cThere can be a lot of anxiety in the day-to-day job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hugo says AI is unlikely to replace his work<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

One of the advantages Hugo sees in his chosen career is the security he believes comes from working in a hands-on trade.The carpenter says he has \u201cpeace of mind\u201d knowing that his job is unlikely to be replaced by artificial intelligence in the future.His work requires him to physically construct and install bespoke elements in homes, from wardrobes and kitchens to roofs and staircases.For Hugo, the practical nature of carpentry is another reason he believes young people should consider the trades alongside more traditional academic routes.<\/p>\n

‘Being in a trade isn’t a job’<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Hugo also runs Toolkit Conduct, helping young people explore careers in the trades. (Photo: SWNS)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Hugo also credits his career with helping him develop life skills, including how to communicate with people and build trust.\u201cIt has taught me how to behave around people, how to build respect and trust, things they don\u2019t teach in a degree,\u201d he said.\u201cIt isn\u2019t the easiest of transitions, but it has built my character and put me in a way stronger position financially than if I had gone to university.\u201dLooking back, Hugo says he cannot think of many advantages to the university route he once considered.\u201cI can\u2019t think of any pros of going looking back,\u201d he said.He also believes young people can be influenced by unrealistic images of success on social media, particularly influencers showcasing luxury lifestyles.\u201cYoung people seem to be lacking purpose and seeing these lives of influencers in Dubai driving a Lamborghini, but that isn\u2019t the real world,\u201d Hugo said.\u201cSocial media is mainly smoke and mirrors.\u201dHe wants trades to be viewed as a respected career rather than a last resort.\u201cBeing in a trade isn\u2019t a job, it is the backbone of humanity, and really needs to be seen more as a vocation, something you can be proud of rather than a last resort,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Saving for his first home<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Hugo is now saving to buy his first house and says his career in carpentry has made that goal possible.He says his income has also allowed him to treat himself to things he wanted, including a pickup truck, while continuing to invest in his business.He has spent thousands of pounds on professional equipment, including a Flexvolt chop saw, a track saw and a Paslode nail gun.The tools allow him to take on a wider range of carpentry jobs and continue developing his business.Hugo believes those opportunities may not have been available to him had he followed the university route he once considered.<\/p>\n

Helping young people enter the trades<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Alongside his carpentry work, Hugo runs Toolkit Conduct, a service that supports young people entering apprenticeships and helps them get the most out of their roles.He started the business and began writing the course around 18 months ago after completing his own apprenticeship and recognising what he believed was a lack of support within the industry.Hugo is yet to make a profit from the business but says there has already been significant interest from some major players in the industry.\u201cThe first 18 months have been the same as any other business of an overall loss despite the money I\u2019ve made from it,\u201d he said.\u201cI am however very ambitious in the next five years of Toolkit.\u201dHe currently offers annual workshops to schools, colleges and other educational institutions, while also exploring potential revenue streams through media and sponsorships.Much of his work with young people so far has been voluntary as he works to establish his reputation.\u201cThis includes performing speeches and workshops at schools and colleges across the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Hugo targets \u00a3100,000 within five years<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Hugo has no plans to stop at his current earnings. He hopes to reach \u00a3100,000 a year within the next five years while also growing Toolkit Conduct.\u201cI\u2019m proof you don\u2019t need A-Levels or a university degree to be earning yourself a good living,\u201d Hugo said.\u201cI could have gone to university if I had stayed on in school as I was getting high grades, but I\u2019m glad I didn\u2019t, as I wouldn\u2019t have the life I have now if I did.\u201dHe also hopes to use his carpentry skills and future earnings to build a property portfolio once he has the financial resources to fund it.\u201cI\u2019m doing well for myself, but I am ambitious and am looking to grow Toolkit Conduct exponentially as I know I can,\u201d he said.\u201cNow I am saving for my first home, something that might have been unachievable at my age if I hadn\u2019t gone into the trades.\u201d<\/div>\n


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Hugo Helms left school at 15 and chose carpentry over university, now earning up to \u00a350,000. (Photo: SWNS) A 21-year-old school dropout who ditched the traditional university route for a carpentry apprenticeship is now earning up to \u00a350,000 a year, saving to buy his first home and aiming to reach \u00a3100,000 within the next five […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15150,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Hugo Helms left school at 15 and chose carpentry over university, now earning up to \u00a350,000. (Photo: SWNS) A 21-year-old school dropout who ditched the traditional university route for a carpentry apprenticeship is now earning up to \u00a350,000 a year, saving to buy his first home and aiming to reach \u00a3100,000 within the next five […]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":3,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":8,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg",300,169,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hugo-helms-left-school-at-15-and-chose-carpentry-over-university-now-earning-up-to-50000.jpg",150,84,false]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15149"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15149\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}