Luke Copley-Wilkins

Joined Carpenter Oak: 2016

Interview with Luke Copley-Wilkins

When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?

Climbing on the amazing sea cliffs, quarries and tors around Devon, spending time at the beaches and dusting off my tools to make things.

If stranded on a desert island, which three people would you take and why?

My family for their laughter and adventures

Favourite CO project

Although I wasn’t involved in it, the Ballista we built for the BBC, it’s a feat of the creativity and skills across our teams.

Favourite quote

“If you always do what you’ve always done you’ll always get what you always got”

Favourite place in the world

Any of the numerous mountain huts around the world, including Upper Travers hut in New Zealand and Corrour Bothy in Cairngorms near our Scotland yard.  Nearer to home, some of the sea cliffs around Berry Head, where you can climb all evening with the sun setting behind you and the occasional seal popping its head up.

Biography

After studying architecture at Sheffield University, with a focus on environmental design, I worked on high end projects in the Cotswolds and played a part  in a number of experimental timber architectural constructions including Studio in the Woods and Dartmoor Arts.

After a stint in New Zealand working on housing and innovative architecture, I returned to the UK, starting at Carpenter Oak as a carpenter.

After several months of carpentry, I set my sights on creating a new market sector for the company called ‘Carpenter Oak Build’, a new part of the business focussing on complete builds.  After the successful implementation, I went on to join the leadership team who merged Carpenter Oak with its sister company Carpenter Oak and Woodland in 2017, allowing the company to bring together its combined skills and expertise, and offer new services.