Ken Brown
HND Furniture Restoration
Why FVC:
I was made redundant last year after 30 years working in the science industry. I have a PHD in Chemistry and have worked in molecular biology at the Beatson Institute in Glasgow, but for the last seven years I had been working in the Bio-tech research field based in Dundee. After all that time working to deadlines and with all the stresses that come with it, I decided that rather than try to find similar work, I would retrain altogether. Forth Valley College was local - cutting out commuting - and it offered me everything I needed including an HND in Furniture Restoration. I had always been good with my hands and it was the perfect fit for me.
Favourite Moment:
Completing the upholstery of a chair the traditional way - it is something that was totally new to me!
Chosen Career:
I am looking forward to becoming self-employed and setting up my own furniture restoration business. I even have a name all ready for it - Elistoun Furniture Restoration. Elistoun is the Ochil peak behind Tillicoultry.
Expected:
I expected there would be much more "make this joint, make that joint" .
Unexpected:
What was totally unexpected was that you have to go to auctions and buy cheap pieces of furniture in order to restore them - which is great. I am really learning to appreciate different types of furniture and it's history.
AOQ:
I could very well go on after my HND and do a degree in design, but for now I want to concentrate on my business. There's not a lot of support out there for people who want to change direction and retrain, but Forth Valley College have been great in helping me get to the point I'm at now.
