A 21-year-old who dropped out of school at 15 is now earning up to £50,000 a year as a fully qualified carpenter, after choosing an apprenticeship over A-Levels and university. Hugo Helms, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, said it was the "best decision" he has ever made not to "waste" three years of his life studying a degree.
Helms, who now runs his own carpentry business, said he is aiming to earn up to £100,000 within the next five years. He also runs a second business, Toolkit Conduct, which offers help and advice to young people aspiring to be tradespeople.
Why he left school
Helms said he excelled at school, receiving top grades and being placed in the top sets in his classes. University felt like the natural next step after college, something he would enjoy with his friends. But while studying drama in Year 9, he felt schooling was a "waste of time" and decided he wanted to take up a trades apprenticeship.
"I 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," he said. "I just had this overwhelming sense that I was just wasting my time. I spoke to my parents that I wanted to do a trades apprenticeship instead of my A-Levels, and they were all for it."
From GCSEs to a carpentry career
Helms left school and completed his education at home, sitting two GCSE exams in Maths and English, which he passed with Grade 5s (B). He was homeschooled by his mum, Lisa, 55, a part-time sales assistant, for the next year before starting his carpentry and joinery apprenticeship in 2021. His dad, Nathan, 57, a successful business owner selling taps and running a spray paint finishing company, urged him to take on the trades opportunity.
Helms admitted the idea of university still lingered. "All my mates were going to Portsmouth University and it was attractive. I could have had a great laugh for three years doing a psychology or sociology course," he said. "By this point, I still wasn't 100% sure what I wanted to do, or if I wanted to start working, so it was always in the back of my mind."
Building a business and a future
Almost five years on, Helms has completed his Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications and runs his own carpentry business, building traditional Victorian cupboards, bespoke wardrobes, large spiral staircases, floating balconies, kitchens, and roofs. He said he has "peace of mind" knowing his job most likely won't be replaced by AI in the future.
"I feel like an adult and I am treated like one too," he said. "What I am doing now has such a huge level of responsibility, and in fact, actually matters. If you fail a university exam, who does it affect, only yourself really, but if I don't fit a new roof and it blows away in a storm, I've misplaced a family."
Helms is now saving to buy his first house, something he says wouldn't be possible without his trade job. He has reinvested thousands of pounds into work equipment and tools, including a Flexvolt chop saw, a track saw, and a Paslode nail gun. He also runs Toolkit Conduct, which supports young people in apprenticeships, and is currently offering annual workshops to schools, colleges, and other educational institutions.
"I'm proof you don't need A-Levels or a university degree to be earning yourself a good living," he said. "I could have gone to university if I had stayed on in school as I was getting high grades, but I'm glad I didn't, as I wouldn't have the life I have now if I did. I believe the trades scene is where you can learn the most as a young person."
Helms said he is yet to make a profit from Toolkit Conduct but has significant interest from some big players in the industry. He hopes to use his carpentry skills to build a real estate portfolio in the future when he can "fund it all".
