THE Repair Shop’s Jay Blades gave a talk to college students this week, advising them on career opportunities.
The presenter of the hit BBC1 programme visited the Rycotewood Furniture Centre at City of Oxford College.
Mr Blades, who is a former upholstery student at Rycotewood, gave a talk to Level 3 and first year foundation degree Furniture Design and Make students.
See also: Ex-Oxford United man helping players with mental health
He said: “Being at Rycotewood, you guys are going to get exposed to lots of different things so I would say, just be a sponge as much as you can.
“You never know where something is going to take you or what it’s going to trigger in your brain.
“In the furniture industry, this is the place. If this is the main place and one of the only places to study furniture, why aren’t you capitalising on Rycotewood? Why aren’t you capitalising on what this can offer?”
Mr Blades also discussed the importance of sustainability in the furniture industry.
Read more: New nature research centre awarded £10m
“In reality, we probably don’t need any more furniture designers,” he said.
“What we need are people who are going to think differently about furniture.
“How are they going to introduce that to the world, because the way we’re going at the moment, we’re messing up the planet.
“We need people who are going to think differently and sustainably.”
Rycotewood has delivered furniture training in Oxfordshire since 1938, and has been located at City of Oxford College since 2004.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok
Got a story for us? Send us your news and pictures here
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here