- Reading & films
- Music concerts
- Sports (watching)
- Dog walking & outdoor life
- Travel
Christopher James Finbow
Sidmouth
Summary
Dedicated carpenter and joiner delivering high-quality work with a focus on reliability and clean finishes. Experienced in managing diverse projects independently, consistently meeting specifications and deadlines. Adaptable to varied site conditions and travel requirements, ensuring timely completion of assignments.
Overview
45
45
years of professional experience
Work History
Self employed carpenter
Chris Finbow
06.2025 - Current
- As before, Managed various client projects on kitchens, wardrobes and interior finishings. Joinery fitting for Pathfinder Homes. Working with other trades on private home extensions and renovations.
Carpenter & Joiner
NDM Construction
Seaton
05.2023 - 06.2025
- General Carpentry and Joinery duties for alterations, renovations and refurbishment of domestic properties. Supervising and co-ordinating other trades and organising materials and work schedules. Facilitated the closure of the company after the director retired.
Self Employed Carpenter
Chris Finbow
11.2020 - 04.2023
- Running my own small business, mainly focusing on wardrobes, kitchens, internal joinery and bespoke built-in furniture. These works for private clients and two small building companies who construct and make alterations to high end properties. Also hand cut roofing, first and second fix carpentry. Used to working on my own or with a small team of all trades.
Self Employed Carpenter
Chris Finbow (registered to work in France)
04.2017 - 10.2020
- Bespoke joinery including design and construction of staircases, kitchen design & installation, hardwood floors, green oak timber framing. Complete renovation of an old farmhouse.
Director
Krysalis Kitchens Ltd
05.2000 - 03.2017
- Kitchen and furniture installation
- Running my own small company, specialising in kitchens for small developers and domestic retail clients. All projects, regardless of size, are managed and carried out from design to completion by myself. Along with carrying out high quality works my duties also include the day-to-day running of the business, surveying jobs and ordering of materials from various suppliers. Liaising with customers and responding to their requirements, organising sub contractors as necessary. Design and construction of custom made built in furniture. Adaption of rooms to suit new layouts. Carrying out showroom and show home kitchen and bathroom furniture installations for Ellis Furniture.
Area Installation Manager
J.T Ellis & Co. (Ellis Furniture)
08.1999 - 05.2000
- I was responsible for organising furniture fitting teams, customer services, minor repairs for domestic and commercial clients. This also included working to site build programmes, liaising with site agents and the onsite sales team. It also involved organising replacements for damaged and missing items; and to rectify problems arising through installations for major housebuilders where we did not install. This helped to keep the homeowner and house builder happy.
Self Employed Carpenter & Joiner
Chris Finbow
05.1985 - 07.1999
- Self employed carpenter/ joiner/ furniture installation
- Sub contract kitchen/furniture fitter and shop fitter. Creating displays for exhibitions and car launches. First and second fix on new housing projects. Assisting a local roofing company for flat and pitched roof construction and refurbishment. Four years with JCC Construction on the refurbishment of listed houses, manor houses, refurbishment and conversion of out-buildings and barn conversions. Maintenance of Ladbrokes and Barnados premises via PB Mansell builders. School and Public building construction and repairs for Tew Bros., Southampton. Making scenery and props for a small theatre company. Retail shop fitting of point of sale displays for Sony, Estate agent property displays and exhibition stands; all for ASW Builders and Shopfitters from Petersfield.
Apprentice carpenter / joiner
O.Seaman & Son
06.1981 - 05.1985
- Completed City & Guilds apprenticeship and continued for 1 year with medium sized Suffolk building contractor, specialising in joinery shop projects including porches, housing developments, pub refurbishments, and character/listed house and monument refurbishments, as well as refurbishment and new construction of schools, agricultural, and commercial projects.
Education
Apprenticeship -
Suffolk College & CITB Technical College
01-1984
O'level -
Stowmarket High School
01-1981
Skills
- Experience in problem solving, and all aspects of Carpentry and Joinery
- Power tools operation
- Health and safety compliance
- Budget management
- Project management
- Project coordination
- Conversant with ArtiCad programme Ability to read and adapt plans
- Ceramic tiling, basic plumbing, decorating, timber, laminate and engineered flooring
- City & Guilds apprenticeship
- Meticulous approach, attention to detail, clean and tidy working area
- Well-organised and methodical worker
- Pro-active, confident and conscientious in all activities
Interests
Referees
Paul Foster
Silverdene Homes Ltd
Alton
Tel: 07990 585533
Other referees available on request.
Personal
I like keeping busy and get a lot of enjoyment from making and fixing things.
Non-smoker.
Timeline
Self employed carpenter
Chris Finbow
06.2025 - Current
Carpenter & Joiner
NDM Construction
05.2023 - 06.2025
Self Employed Carpenter
Chris Finbow
11.2020 - 04.2023
Self Employed Carpenter
Chris Finbow (registered to work in France)
04.2017 - 10.2020
Director
Krysalis Kitchens Ltd
05.2000 - 03.2017
Area Installation Manager
J.T Ellis & Co. (Ellis Furniture)
08.1999 - 05.2000
Self Employed Carpenter & Joiner
Chris Finbow
05.1985 - 07.1999
Apprentice carpenter / joiner
O.Seaman & Son
06.1981 - 05.1985
Apprenticeship -
Suffolk College & CITB Technical College
O'level -
Stowmarket High School