Stockport joiner, 18, takes 50kg of donated tools to Uganda and teaches his trade

A newly qualified 18-year-old joiner from Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, spent 10 days building, welding and teaching his trade at a children's charity in Kampala, Uganda, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has said.

Joel Hulley flew out with two suitcases holding 50kg of hand tools and fixings, which the FMB valued at £400. Most were donated by Howdens, with more from local ironmongers Cooksons and from his employer, FMB member Hende Building Services.

He travelled with Watoto, which the FMB described as a Ugandan organisation that takes in children from newborns up to the age of 16. The trip was arranged through Ford's Lane Evangelical Church in Bramhall, which he has attended since birth.

Hulley spent most of his time in Uganda welding, but also taught joinery classes to teenagers younger than himself.

"A lot of the lads there were really happy to see it, because their teachers were all older men. Then they finally have a lad close to their age come in and teach them the same things," said Hulley.

Weeks after returning, he qualified as a joiner, 18 months into his apprenticeship with Hende, according to the FMB.

The employer

Ian Henderson of Hende helped source the tool donations and paid the trip as holiday, rather than the unpaid leave Hulley had booked. The firm also sent branded workwear for the charity's maintenance team to keep.

Hende is now sponsoring Hulley through his Level 3 advanced craft qualification at Macclesfield College, the FMB said.

Henderson said he had received no help when he was an apprentice and was determined that his company would support Hulley.

"The majority of our workforce is now over 50. Every builder out there has to give young people a chance," said Henderson.

Hende says on its website that it is based in Cheadle Hulme and specialises in bespoke house extensions. The firm lists Henderson as a regional board member for the FMB.

Choosing a trade

Nobody in Hulley's family works in the building trade, and his grandparents at first tried to talk him out of it, according to the FMB.

Hulley said he chose a trade over A-levels because he could do a college course and be paid while he learned.

Carolyn Frank, FMB North director, said smaller firms can give apprentices all-round support as well as teaching them technical skills.

The FMB describes itself as the largest trade association in UK construction, representing small to medium-sized building companies. It was established in 1941.

What happens next

Henderson intends to enter Hulley for the FMB Master Builder Awards in 2027. The FMB has not said which category he would be entered in.

Under the criteria published for the 2025 awards, the Apprentice of the Year category recognised an individual apprentice employed by a Master Builder company, and nominees had to be working towards a construction apprenticeship or have recently finished one.

Nominations for the 2027 Master Builder Awards open in autumn 2026, according to the FMB.