HE was spotted during a school trip to a Bordon construction site and, within six months, 17-year-old Jack Ford had not only been given an apprenticeship by one of the UK’s leading home builders, but last month he was chosen as Apprentice of the Quarter by Barratt Homes.

While on the visit Jack also had the opportunity to work for another construction firm, Taylor Wimpey, which, recognising his leadership skills, offered him a job as an apprentice site manager.

However, Jack likes working at his trade as an apprentice carpenter and joiner and so he also turned down an offer by Barratt to become an apprentice site manager.

He credits Barratt’s community liaison manager Anthony Dimmick with giving him a big step up in his career as Anthony had been impressed with the teenager’s mature approach to his work and his plans for the future.

As a result of their meeting, in August last year Jack took up the offer to become an apprentice carpenter and joiner with Barratt, which is building homes at the former Louisburg Barracks site in the north of Bordon.

This apprenticeship gives Jack the chance to study one day a week at Bordon’s Future Skills Centre which, also located at the former Louisburg Barracks site, is only a stone’s throw from the new houses Jack is helping to build.

Jack’s success is all the more remarkable as a family tragedy nearly two years ago could have caused him and his family to fall apart.

In July 2016, his father Tony, who ran his own demolition business, died suddenly aged 47.

That September Jack was due to start his GCSE studies and the shock of losing his father could have made him abandon his studies.

The fact that he did not is due to his own resolve and the strength and love of his mother Julie, who has guided her sons (Jack, Henry, 19, and Joe, 14) through a devastating time in their lives, keeping the family home in Whitehill as a safe haven for them, while encouraging the boys to keep achieving and following their ambitions.

Determined not to let his mum or late father down, Jack began to study for his GCSEs and, after having done some construction work at the school, he knew it was what he wanted to do.

“They taught us how to do bricklaying,” Jack said. “But when it came to choosing my options, by mistake, I ended up doing drama and PE which I certainly didn’t want to do.”

Luckily, Jack was able to change and take subjects in construction and carpentry and he passed his exams with flying colours.

It was while waiting for the results that he went on the school’s site visit and met Anthony Dimmick, which set him on his career path.

After Mill Chase Academy, Jack had thought he would go on to further studies at Aldershot Construction College, but all that changed when he was offered an apprenticeship by Barratt.

Now he is being paid while learning his craft and in two years’ time he will be qualified. Through it all, he said: “I owe a debt of gratitude to Mr Dimmick, who has acted as my mentor and encouraged me all the way, and to Barratt, and I hope to stay with the company.

“It could mean, in the future, travelling all over the UK to work on its sites. As it is at the moment, I am helping to build the houses near The Phoenix Theatre but we have a problem because they are such good quality, and such is the demand, they are being sold before we finish building them.”

A good-looking young man, Jack is tall and slim and not of the build you would associate with a fighter.

But Jack could have had another career in the boxing ring. When he was 14 he told his parents he wanted to box.

His mother said: “At first Tony didn’t want him to do it but, when he saw Jack was keen, he agreed to take him to do his training at Guildford.”

Jack proved he had talent and went on to win the Southern Counties Championship and last year the Haringey Box Cup at Alexandra Palace.

Jack is modest about his boxing success - poignantly he won one of his trophies, in memory of his dad, on Father’s Day - but proud of the cups he has won.

It is obvious that Julie, who is bubbly and bright, is proud of them all.

Henry is already a qualified carpenter and joiner and Joe is also showing an interest in construction.

Julie, who as well as running the household and looking after three teenage boys, works for watch company Swico in Haslemere.

She is giving up her spare time to teach Jack to drive. She is also helping Jack to buy a small Fiesta van in which he can keep his tools. This will give him more flexibility, when he finishes his apprenticeship, if he has to travel to other sites to work.

Jack also hopes to use the van to help his social life as, at present, he said: “There is nothing for teenagers to do in Whitehill and Bordon and you have to go to Aldershot or Guildford if you want a night out with mates.”

With all the talent and ambition in this family, the brothers could even start up their own firm and there could be a fleet of vans bearing the name and description: “Ford Brothers: the best carpenters and joiners in the business.”

Anthony Dimmick told the Bordon Herald: “Jack is developing a great set of skills and we’re delighted to have him working and learning on our new Bordon development.

“His enthusiasm and willingness to help others has made him a stand-out student.

“He’s now at the stage where he can mentor others doing work experience.”

A spokesman for the housebuilder said: “Barratt Homes has helped thousands of people start their careers in construction through its apprenticeship scheme over the past 60 years.

“The scheme helps young people learn the vital hands-on skills they need by working on site four days a week, alongside seasoned professionals.

“The apprentices then typically spend a day a week at a local college, where they get a mix of academic and vocational learning, to work towards their qualification. Apprentices are paid employees, so they get to earn while they learn.”