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Fourply

Professional building partners for refurbishments, minor works and roll-outs, 24/7

Fourply delivers high-quality building projects including refurbishments and minor works throughout the UK for big brands and small independents. Our service is focused on solving your problems quickly, intelligently and professionally. We have the knowledge, experience and flexibility to deliver both minor works and UK roll-outs, and we’re experts in planned and reactive maintenance with real-time job management and reporting 24/7.

11/06/2026

Episode 105
The Apprentice And The Bee
Looking Beyond the Numbers

Last week we were delighted to welcome John Grady MP, back to Fourply to meet our developing Apprentices and Bees here in Tobago Street.

Following recent discussion around Alan Milburn’s report on young people and work, John was keen to understand how apprentices are actually recruited, trained and supported by employers on the ground.

Like our solitary bees preparing the next generation, apprenticeships require time, structure, investment and patience.

The challenge facing many SME’s is not a lack of willingness to train. It is ensuring that apprenticeship support keeps pace with the realities and increasing costs of delivering that training.

We would like to thank John for taking the time to engage with these important issues.

The next generation does not develop by accident. It develops when somebody is prepared to invest the time to understand what is required.

04/06/2026

Episode 104
The Apprentice And The Bee
Precision Built into Every Step

This completed staircase marks the final outcome of a significant part of our apprentice’s Advanced Craft course in Carpentry & Joinery studies during his 3rd Year Apprenticeship at Kelvin College.

What began as lines marked onto a timber stringer has now developed into a fully assembled staircase, demonstrating the precision and technical understanding required within modern joinery.

Complex stair construction involves far more than simply cutting and assembling timber. The housed stringers, tread and riser alignment, newel connections and balustrade details must all work together accurately to achieve a clean, flowing staircase that remains within the tolerances expected by building standards.

Projects like this help develop the higher-level practical skills expected from an apprentice progressing towards becoming a fully qualified craftsperson.

One staircase completed. Another stage of development achieved.

28/05/2026

Episode 103
The Apprentice And The Bee
Alone in the Chamber

Resting quietly inside a single nesting chamber, this solitary Red Mason Bee appears isolated — yet instinctively focused on preparing the next generation.

Despite the confined space, the work continues.

Carefully, patiently and with purpose, each chamber will be prepared using pollen and mud to give future life the best possible chance to develop.

Watching closely, it is difficult not to reflect on the growing pressures surrounding apprenticeships and skills development across industry today.

Many businesses still recognise the importance of training the next generation — yet the environment to support that development feels increasingly restricted.

▪ Opportunities narrow

▪ Costs increase

▪ Support reduces

And still, the work continues.

At Fourply, “The Apprentice & The Bee” continues to highlight the importance of creating the right conditions for future skills to survive and grow.

Because nothing sustainable can exist without preparing the next generation.

22/05/2026

Episode 102
The Appprentice And The Bee
Bringing the Stair Together

As part of their Advanced Craft studies at Kelvin College, one of our 3rd Year Carpentry & Joinery Apprentices has now completed this section of his Complex Timber Stair Construction project.

From the initial setting out of the laminated stringers, through to routing housings, forming joints and assembling the staircase, every stage has required patience, accuracy and careful planning.

This completed stair brings together housed stringers, newel posts, treads, risers and balustrade components into one assembled structure — where even small inaccuracies during manufacture would quickly become visible in the finished result.

The flowing geometry of the winder section highlights why complex stair construction remains one of the more advanced areas of joinery training. Every tread position, angle and joint-line has to work together so the staircase runs true and fits correctly.

Just like the solitary bees in The Apprentice & The Bee, strong structures are built gradually — one carefully completed stage at a time.

14/05/2026

Episode 102
The Appprentice And The Bee
Building the First Cell

This week brought encouraging signs of new beginnings in Tobago Street.

Local Red Mason Bees have started showing real interest in our Bee Hotel hand-built by our apprentices — hovering around the entrances and preparing for the season ahead.

As one of our Apprentices opens the viewing door, we catch sight of our first Red Mason Bee preparing the very first cell with pollen and mud.

A small moment, but an important one.

Each cell is built carefully and in sequence — creating the right conditions for future development.

It’s a reminder of something recently highlighted “Nothing can be achieved without a skilled workforce”

That’s exactly what The Apprentice & The Bee represents — investing patiently in the next generation, creating strong foundations and preparing for the future before the results are fully seen.

07/05/2026

Episode 101
The Appprentice And The Bee
Trial Fitting Treads & Risers

As part of their Advanced Craft studies, one of our 3rd Year Carpentry & Joinery apprentices is progressing through Complex Timber Stair Construction – building a staircase the way it should be built: accurately, methodically and in the right sequence.

In this photo he’s loosely fitting the treads and risers to confirm they sit cleanly into the routed housings on the stringer before the final assembly stages begin.

This “dry fit” stage is where problems get caught early: correct housings, full seating and a chance to check alignment before everything is clamped, wedged and fixed.

For complex stairs, millimetres matter – and careful trial fitting helps the finished staircase run true and stay within the limits expected by building standards.

Patient work, repeated checks – one step closer to a staircase that fits first time.

30/04/2026

Episode 100
The Appprentice And The Bee
Opportunity Finds a Way

Growth often starts with a simple step.

As part of our ongoing expansion, we recently acquired the neighbouring property — creating new space, new potential and new opportunities for the future of the business.

But nature had already made its move.

One of our apprentices spotted solitary bees making use of old rawlbolt sleeves and even the adjacent roller shutter — small, overlooked spaces now serving as nesting points. With the recent rise in temperature, these bees have begun to emerge, instinctively finding mates before the nesting season begins.

No grand design. No perfect conditions. Just initiative, awareness and making use of what’s available.

A timely reminder that development — whether in business or in people — doesn’t always wait for ideal circumstances. It often begins by recognising opportunity where others might not look.

At Fourply, as we grow our physical footprint, we continue to invest in our apprentices — creating the right environment for them to develop, adapt and thrive.

Because sometimes, the smallest openings lead to the biggest progress.

23/04/2026

Episode 99
The Appprentice And The Bee
The Right Conditions for Skills to Grow

We were delighted to welcome Maureen Burke (MP for Glasgow North East) to our offices recently, where we presented our award-winning project, The Apprentice & The Bee.

Whilst meeting several of our apprentices, we shared the local impact Fourply have built through our long-standing relationship with Glasgow Kelvin College (for over 10 years) – working closely with lecturers, supporting students and recruiting through pre-apprenticeship routes.

The Apprentice & The Bee reflects a simple truth: skills don’t develop overnight – they require: –

▪ the right environment

▪ structure and sequence

▪ patience over time

We also spoke openly about the challenges Fourply are experiencing on the ground, with: –

▪ ongoing skills shortages

▪ an ageing workforce

▪ increasing costs and pressures of apprenticeship delivery

The result is clear – apprenticeships are becoming harder to sustain and it’s beginning to impact recruitment.

While there is clear investment at UK level, from an SME perspective there remains a need for more targeted, practical support to continue developing the next generation.

16/04/2026

Episode 98
The Appprentice And The Bee
The Right Conditions to Emerge

Not all growth is visible … until the moment it happens.

These cocoons have been developing quietly over the past 9 months.

Now transferred into our hatchery drawer and returned to the Bee Hotel, they’re ready.

Positioned south-facing … Sheltered … Waiting.

Because when the temperature reaches 15°C … everything changes.

Emergence begins.

And it’s no different for our apprentices.

The right environment … The right support … The right moment.

That’s when potential turns into progress.

As we step into our 26th year, we’re reminded — success isn’t rushed… it’s nurtured.

10/04/2026

Episode 97
The Appprentice And The Bee
Routed Housings & Newel Joinery

As part of his Advanced Craft studies, one of our 3rd Year Carpentry & Joinery apprentices is progressing through Complex Timber Stair Construction – turning the set-out into real components that must fit first time.

In this photo you can see a stringer section and newel posts that have been routed out and prepared to accept the tread and riser sections later in the build.

The newels have also been jointed with the stringer and handrail sections, so the whole assembly can be checked for fit, alignment and accuracy before the staircase is closed in.

This is the stage where quality is won (or lost): clean housings, tight joints and repeatable accuracy mean the next steps – treads, risers and balustrade – can be assembled without forcing, gaps or compromise.

Patient workmanship – checked and re-checked – one joint at a time.

Address

21-33 Tobago Street
Glasgow
G402RH

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	7:30am - 4:30pm

Website

https://fourply.com/

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