Pete and Riley have officially completed their apprenticeships, and they’re proving that cabinet making is creative, rewarding, and full of surprises. Here’s a glimpse behind the workshop doors—and why this could be the career move you didn’t know you were looking for.

Riley’s apprenticeship story started in the most unlikely of places—on the soccer field. “I first heard about the apprenticeship through Pete at summer soccer,” he says. Who would have thought a casual chat between kicks could spark a career in cabinet making?

From day one, Riley knew he wanted something hands-on. “I’ve always liked working with timber, so an apprenticeship felt like the perfect fit,” he explains. That curiosity quickly turned into real action in the workshop. A typical day? “Lots of mistakes but a lot more learning”.

At SpaceCraft, mistakes aren’t setbacks—they’re often seen as stepping stones to sharper skills and better attention to detail.

Precision has become Riley’s superpower. “It’s a lot easier now to be precise with my measurements and spot when something’s off,” he says. And when it comes to proud moments, tackling the curved veneer doors on a recent Builder project takes the crown. “Working through the curved doors was a challenge, but in the end, I really liked how it turned out”—that was a highlight.”

For anyone considering an apprenticeship, Riley’s advice is simple: “Go for it. You have nothing to lose”.

And then there’s Pete.

Pete didn’t stumble into cabinet making—he was practically recruited. “I heard about the apprenticeship through a family friend who’d recently had a SpaceCraft kitchen installed,” he says. Picture it: someone proudly showing off their new joinery, and Pete thinking, yep… I could do that. And just like that, the seed was planted.

But this wasn’t Pete’s first rodeo. “Having already completed an apprenticeship as a chef, I knew it was the perfect way to learn—hands on, in the action.” Translation? Uni was never going to cut it. Pete is built for the deep end: real tools, real people, real work, real learning.

And as for what a “typical day” looked like? Pete puts it bluntly: “I wasn’t really a typical apprentice.” Which, honestly, checks out. He’s always been the guy who jumps straight into the thick of things—more action, less standing around waiting to be told what to do.

Skill-wise, Pete’s grown into the guy you send when you need something installed correctly, politely, and yesterday. “Although I’m still growing my skills every day, I’ve learnt all the ins and outs of installing. The most important skills I’ve gained are problem solving on the fly and communication with clients and co-workers.”

Ask him about his proudest work, and he doesn’t hesitate. “The Art Deco Glam showroom kitchen—everything was basically worked out as it went in.” Then there’s Tim and Lisa’s MCM project. “I put countless hours of work into which would be another favourite.”

So, what’s Pete’s advice for future apprentices? “It’s a great way to learn and develop new skills. Ask lots of questions and put in the effort and you’ll be pushed to your full potential.” Classic Pete—straight to the point, no fluff, and absolutely right.