Office worker turned handyman up for national award

Guy Hodgson, 32, had worked for Network Rail for five years before he took voluntary redundancy in 2012 and then started volunteering on construction projects - including at Foundry Wood in Leamington - to build up his skills as a handyman.

He has since set up his own company, HandyGuy, and won the West Midlands section of Britain’s Top Tradesman 2014 awards. Now Warwick Gates customer Stuart Cooper has nominated him for the National Tradesmen Day competition run by Irwin Tools.

Guy, who is also a busy Dad to four-month-old Barney, said: “Becoming a handyman used many of the skills I already had and it has proved to be very varied and mentally challenging work.

“I would encourage others thinking about changing their career to do it, but to phase from one career to another. In the early days of my business I still did some subcontracting work in the railways for some reliable income. Working for free is a great way to gain experience.”

Find out more at www.yourhandyguy.co.uk