EXCLUSIVE: Kieran Nagle stop his Metropolis job to pursue his childhood ardour for DIY.
Kieran Nagle, 44, stop his Metropolis job to begin his personal flat pack furnishings meeting enterprise (Picture: Kieran Nagle)
A former Metropolis employee says he has no regrets after giving up his job in finance to pursue his aspect hustle placing collectively flat pack furnishings. Whereas the prospect of constructing wardrobes, cabinets and cupboards would possibly fill some with horror, Kieran Nagle, 44, mentioned he stop the “rat race” to just do that.
He instructed the Day by day Specific: “Working in an workplace could be a thankless process, churning by way of work. My job now’s rather more rewarding. Day-after-day you make clients completely satisfied and get a ‘thanks’.” The handyman, from West Drayton close to Heathrow, left the Sq. Mile to pursue his dream in 2007 simply earlier than the monetary disaster, which triggered a extreme international downturn. Nearly 20 years later, Kieran has turned a childhood expertise for DIY right into a money-spinner, making £40,000 to £50,000 per yr. The net market, Airtasker, named him nationwide winner at its annual awards in 2025, describing Kieran as a “extremely rated handyman” with a “flawless” completion fee.
Kieran says flat pack meeting is like Lego for adults (Picture: Kieran Nagle)
Kieran’s resolution to vary careers got here after his mum, Rita, steered he flip his hand to flat-pack meeting when he admitted he was sad in his Metropolis position.
The proprietor of We Construct Your Flat Packs first found a expertise for placing furnishings collectively on the age of 15 when an IKEA supply arrived on the household dwelling early.
Whereas his dad and mom have been away on vacation, teenage Kieran grabbed some instruments and began hammering, screwing and becoming collectively his new bed room furnishings.
Kieran, explaining his love for DIY, mentioned: “As a baby, I liked Lego and jigsaws. One of the best ways to explain [flatpack furniture] is that it is like Lego for adults. You could have a set of directions and simply must construct it.”
On the perks of being his personal boss, Kieran mentioned: “I keep away from the frenzy hour. I determine my hours. It isn’t for everybody, however when you’ve got an entrepreneurial spirit, then you must 100% take the leap.”
Kieran found his knack for DIY when he put collectively his IKEA bed room furnishings as a teen (Picture: Getty)
He admitted that placing out on his personal wasn’t simple at first, however after years of constructing his popularity, enterprise is brisk.
Kieran’s success even led to an look on the Channel 5 collection Store Good, Save Cash, the place he was tasked with assembling a pair of wardrobes.
The handyman, who’s engaged to fiancée Claire, mentioned: “It makes me really feel good that I am making folks completely satisfied.
Private finance information, cash saving ideas and recommendation plus selcted affords and competitions Subscribe Invalid e mail
We use your sign-up to offer content material in methods you have consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This will likely embrace adverts from us and third events primarily based on our understanding. You’ll be able to unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
“I used to be a educated dealer and noticed the quantities of cash folks have been incomes. Nevertheless it did not make me completely satisfied. Altering profession was initially fairly scary, however it’s been an upwards trajectory since.
“Being sad within the Metropolis was robust. That was tougher than struggling [as my own boss] originally. However sticking with it was the most effective resolution I ever made.”
Leave a Reply