In an age dominated by rapid innovation, it’s easy to forget that some of the most valuable skills are the ones passed down — not from manuals or screens, but from hands-on experience, family wisdom, and time-tested tools.

For Thomas Mould, classic car restoration is more than a career — it’s a legacy.

“I started a restoration company [DMG Services] with my dad almost two years ago,” Thomas shares. “I’ve always had my hand in the trade from a young age, always learning lost skills from watching my dad work on his project cars in the driveway.”

Raised in a household where craftsmanship was part of daily life, Thomas grew up with a respect for the tools and techniques that shaped generations before him. But starting a company at a young age came with a drive to do more — to do better. That led him to the Heritage Skills Academy, a decision he calls “a real opportunity of a lifetime.”

Learning Skills Many Will Never Know

At the Academy, Thomas dove deeper into the craft, developing technical skills that are fast disappearing from modern workshops.

“Since starting, I’ve learned how to English wheel, gas weld, and lots of other skills that people my generation will probably never come across in their lifetime.”

While many industries chase speed and automation, the Heritage Skills Academy prioritizes precision, tradition, and hands-on excellence. Thomas is now part of a new generation learning old skills — not as a nostalgic gesture, but as a serious and essential craft.

 

A Legacy in Metal and Memory

What makes Thomas’s story especially moving is the connection he has with his tools. He works daily with equipment inherited from his late grandfather — a man who once worked for Rolls-Royce in Crewe. These aren’t just tools; they’re heirlooms.

“A lot of these tools are Sykes Pickavant, and to see how they’ve lasted through three generations shows the exceptional quality of the tools.”

Each dented handle and worn grip tells a story. And every time Thomas reaches for a tool, he’s not just restoring a car — he’s continuing a family story that spans decades.

The Joy of Craftsmanship

For Thomas, the reward isn’t just in the finished restoration. It’s in the process itself — the tactile, deeply satisfying rhythm of shaping, welding, and bringing something back to life.

“I’ve always said that if you enjoy your job, you’ll never work a day in your life. And this is one of the few trades out there where that saying really applies.”

At the Heritage Skills Academy, apprentices like Thomas aren’t just learning skills. They’re reviving traditions, restoring pride in craft, and carrying forward a heritage that might otherwise be lost.

In every weld, every wheel, every carefully formed panel — a little piece of history lives on.