I was the kid who never quite fit in. which now i know was due to my ADHD, struggled through school, and got sacked from my first job as an accountant. By 18, I was dependent on alcohol and drugs,  convinced I’d already ruined my life.

But then I saw an apprenticeship role in engineering at Unilever. I didn’t get it.
Instead, I worked for my dad as a landscaper. It was hands-on, real work and I loved it. It taught me things school never could: patience, purpose, and pride in what I built.

I still couldn’t shake my obsession with how things work. I was the kid who watched How It’s Made and built LEGO machines for fun. So I tried again. I reapplied for that same apprenticeship a year later  and this time, I nailed it (because I memorised the answers). I became the fastest-ever apprentice to complete the program at Unilever.

That one opportunity changed my life  all because I found an environment I could thrive in.

Since then, I’ve built businesses, invested in property, and stayed rooted in what I love: engineering, innovation, and family. But I’ve seen first-hand the growing skills gap in the UK and the growing disconnect between kids and parents.

So I started BLD. It’s a hands-on DIY experience for kids and their parents to reconnect, build real-world skills, and discover who they really are,  just like I did.

Because not every child is made for the classroom. But every child deserves a chance to build something that lasts.