Mural hopes to inspire future construction workers
BBCA 22-year-old carpentry apprentice hopes an east London mural bearing his likeness will help inspire more people to work in construction.
D'ontae Rock, from Tottenham, said he was "ecstatic" to be one of three people depicted in the street art on Wood Street, Walthamstow which aims to help attract more people to the industry.
According to Office for National Statistics figures, there are more than 35,000 construction vacancies across the UK, with more than half unfilled due to a lack of qualified workers.
The government has pledged to train an additional 60,000 more engineers, bricklayers, electricians, and joiners by 2029 to tackle skills shortages and boost housebuilding.
Reflecting on the mural, Rock said: "I was so ecstatic. I'm very grateful to be one of the three up here. Hopefully I can become a lot more influential and inspire people to go down this path and build this sector up. It's amazing."
Rock said his grandfather introduced him to carpentry, and he had since discovered his own love for the trade.
He described his apprenticeship as "the best of both worlds", and said it balanced learning with hands-on experience.
"When I first started carpentry, it was more of a hobby... the more I have been doing this, the more I have started to love it.
"I didn't expect to be given so much responsibility so quickly, but it's pushed me to progress faster and explore the many career paths in construction. For now, I'm focused on becoming a qualified carpenter people can rely on."
Rosa Wells, an engineer who oversees the education of construction workers, also features in the mural. She said she grew up fascinated by how things were made.
She said a passion for innovation and precision led her to a job in manufacturing, before she went into education.
Wells said there was a need, not just for apprentices, but for people willing to teach in further education.
"It's not just about passing on technical knowledge; it's about inspiring confidence, showing learners what's possible, and preparing them for careers that sustain and grow our sector," she said.
"One of my proudest moments has been seeing former learners go on to secure their dream job roles in construction and work on major projects that transform communities. That's when you realise the impact you can have."
Milton Walcott, from Complete Fixing Solutions, hires apprentices and said it was rewarding to bring on a young person and see them grow in their career.
"I really enjoy seeing them flourish," he said.
Walcott said employers needed to be "braver" and start more apprenticeships to get young people into construction jobs.
"The young people really need this in London," he said.
In the Autumn Budget the government announced a £725m investment to help 50,000 young people start apprenticeships.
Colleges are to receive £570m to train more skilled workers, and £100m will go to mayors to boost the number of places on construction courses.
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