Expanding the team: Meet our new trainee designer, Tom.
Approx. 2 min read
Welcome to Tom Corner!
Many recent and exciting changes have taken place at OSO Timber since the new year. We moved into a new office location in Canterbury where we are actively looking to work in partnership with local businesses and collaborators, and new clients are also sending us inspiring project ideas. But for the last month, we have also had the pleasure of introducing our newest team member, Tom Gibbs.
Tom is our trainee designer, and he has been diving straight into learning all the tricks of the trade, all our software and processes, and he is already leaving his mark with his own creations. We have asked Tom a few questions about himself and his beginnings at OSO:
How was your first month at OSO Timber?
The days continue to tally up and tumble down as I near the first full month working for Oso Timber, learning the trade of timber designer, the padawan to Jordan’s Jedi master. It has been an exhilarating and rapid transmission from the work of a bison ranger and conservationist, over ten years in the making, a decision not lightly made, but fully embraced.
The opportunity to learn a new discipline and to move into a field that I knew little about but had boundless enthusiasm for (since a young age), and the chance to work with and learn from a talented friend was the deal breaker. I had an amazing run working on a pioneering project here in Kent and made friends for life but felt like I had hit a glass ceiling and needed a new challenge, something I could throw myself into with renewed vigour.
That’s quite the change from your previous career. What inspired you to make this transition?
It was of paramount importance to me that I could continue to work in an environment that allowed me to satisfy my passions of looking after the environment and having a meaningful impact on my day-to-day work. Timber designing and working with green oak; incorporating beautiful, historical craftsmanship, but with a modern twist, felt like the perfect fit. The possibilities to assist in the growth of Oso Timber, alongside Jordan, with the ambition to ‘constructively’ influence the building industry, an industry that has many issues coexisting sustainably with the environment (something I was acutely aware of coming from the conservation sector), felt like the right next step on my professional path.
From the 22nd of January until the time of writing, the learning curve has been steep. Dietrich’s, Sketch Up, technical drawings, new terminology, and principles. It has been full-blooded and challenging but in all the right ways. Moving from a primarily outdoors role to a desk-based one had been a potential worry – would I adapt? But the lessons come thick and fast, the dynamism of the work environment engendered by Jordan lends itself to a productive, safe space in which to develop; I feel as though I have crammed a year’s worth of knowledge into a fraction of a time. But the thirst to understand this new specialist subject is unquenchable, there’s so much to learn and the possibility of dovetailing with my previous experiences means I feel prepared for the long road ahead.
What are some of your likes and dislikes, and what is your greatest ambition?
I consume music in vast quantities (rock, funk, hip-hop, classical, jazz, Mongolian throat singing, anything goes) and love attending gigs whenever possible. I love hiking in nature and being surrounded by the great outdoors, especially when there is a pub stop or two involved. I am also into photography, DIY and upcycling, drawing, and creating anything with my hands. I love animals, in particular our family dogs, Annie and Nelly (say hello to Annie in the photo!), and adopting a dog or cat is high on the to do list. Unfortunately, the landlady thinks otherwise. On the other hand, my number one pet hate is littering, and anyone that doesn’t look after the environment - we only have one home and if we don't look after it, it won't be able to look after us. Equally bad are dodgy politicians, bad drivers, and over-cooked vegetables.
My greatest passion would be to be someone who leaves the world in a better place than they found it; to leave a body of work behind of which I can be proud, and to feel that these efforts have made a difference to the social and environmental issues that I am passionate about.
Keep an eye out for our next post where we give you a bit more of a detailed account of what this first month in the role has entailed! Until then, do follow us on Instagram and/or get in touch to see how we can help on your next timber frame project!
Written by Tom Gibbs