Gareth joins forces with his former college

A former East Durham College joinery student has returned to the Peterlee campus to give an insight into his career since leaving the college.

By The Newsroom

Published 19th Jan 2016, 05:00 BST

East Durham College joinery lecturer Dominic Hunt, former student Gareth Frater and East Durham College joinery lecturer Joe Atherton.

Gareth Frater, 34, joined the college straight from school, studying on a joinery course between 1998 and 2001.

During his time at the college he got the opportunity to take up an apprenticeship with Easington Action Team, which led to a full-time job where he spent the next 10 years. But when Gareth was made redundant in 2011, he decided to set up his own business, which he called GF Joinery.

Since then, GF Joinery has gone from strength to strength – so much so, that

Gareth, working alongside the college, may take on an apprentice of his own in the near future.

He said: “It’s great to have this opportunity to come back to East Durham College and pass on my knowledge.”

Peterlee