Jakob Voxen's colleagues are among his best friends. That’s the way it is when you’ve been a part of the same work gang in 20 years. Here, Jakob reflects on how the carpenter trade has changed since he got his apprentice certificate, and why he is happy to head to work at 4:50 a.m. every morning.
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See our vacancies here- I’ve been a carpenter for more than 30 years now and of course the trade has changed. The constructions we do are way more complex than when I first started.
It’s usually at 4:50 a.m. that I start my car and head to work. For a lot of people that might be way to early to go to work, but for me it’s the greatest. There’s a very special light over Copenhagen, and the city is nice and quiet when it wakes up. At 5:45 I eat my breakfast and have a cup of coffee on the construction site while Østerbro wakes up around me. After that I go through the tasks of the day before my work gang starts at 6:30.
I knew early on that I wanted to be a craftsman. Using my hands and my head is great. After finishing school, I got on my bike and rode it out to a couple of carpenters close to where I lived. Their work looked exciting, and they spent most of their time outside. So, I got an apprenticeship, and when I finished it I stayed in the same company for seven more years. After that, I went to MT Højgaard where I’ve been happy to stay ever since.
- As craftsmen we’re sometimes met with prejudices. Typically, it’s something about us being lazy, not honouring our agreements, and not cleaning up after ourselves.
Work is supposed to be fun
At the moment we’re 14 people in my work gang. Half of us have worked together for 15 and 20 years, and we know each other inside out. We see each other privately at birthdays and on fishing trips, and we’ve caught a lot of salmons together in Swedish rivers. We’re not just colleagues – we’re good friends too.
Work is supposed to be fun. It’s important for us to make room for laughs, and during the breaks we talk about sports and news. We often light up the grill because it creates a good atmosphere on the site.
“I don’t want to look at that”
On our construction site the work gang recently celebrated 1,000 days without accidents at work with absence. It became a sport long ago to improve the record. We have an amazing guy responsible for safety, and he’s constantly on top of us. If we’re too casual about anything he lets us know. He tells us “I don’t want to look at that”, and we get our act together right away.
I’ve been a carpenter for more than 30 years now, and of course the trade has changed. The constructions we do are way more complex than when I first started. The technical and ergonomical aids have developed, and the materials have become better, smaller, and easier to handle. Today, there’s light weight tile and plasterboards, and most things run on battery. Before, we received materials by hand. Now we have an electric flex mover that can tilt deliveries so we receive them at the right angle.
- After finishing school, I got on my bike and rode it out to a couple of carpenters close to where I lived. Their work looked exciting, and they spent most of their time outside.
Danish craftsmen deliver high quality
As craftsmen we’re sometimes met with prejudices. Typically, it’s something about us being lazy, not honouring our agreements, and not cleaning up after ourselves. I can’t say that those things don’t happen anywhere. But I’ve never experienced it myself. I think that the trust in our skills is moving in the right direction. Danish craftsmen deliver high quality, and we’re proud of that.