A man who left behind his corporate career to follow his passion assembling flat-pack furniture is now raking in £50,000 a year.
Kieran Nagle grew tired of the “rat race” and long days stuck in an office before deciding to turn a lifelong hobby into a career.
The 44-year-old followed his childhood passion and embraced a career that many might dread – building wardrobes, shelves and cabinets.
- Advertisement -
“[I was] seeking more fulfilling and rewarding work that better aligned with my interests,” Kieran, who is from West Drayton, London, told CreatorZine
“My mum encouraged me to turn his DIY talent into a business, so I left finance in 2007.
“I discovered my knack for building things as a teenager.
“My interest in DIY and furniture assembly continued into adulthood and eventually became the foundation of my business.”
Kieran first discovered his aptitude for assembling furniture at the age of 15, when an IKEA delivery arrived early and his parents were away on holiday.
- Advertisement -
The teenager picked up some tools and set to work on constructing his new bedroom furniture.
Kieran is now a handyman and flat-pack furniture specialist, running his own business and working on online marketplace Airtasker, which recently recognised him as a national winner at its annual awards.
Through Airtasker alone, Kieran typically earns £2,500 to £3,000 per month.
- Advertisement -
Combined with his own business work for his company We Build Your Flat Packs, his overall annual income is around £40,000 to £50,000.
He first turned to the platform after seeing a TV advert during a particularly quiet period for his own handyman business during the Covid pandemic.
Work had slowed significantly, and Kieran realised it was something he could easily fit around his existing commitments and daily routine.
Thanks to Airtasker, Kieran has been able to fund holidays, including a trip to Vietnam, something he says would not have been affordable for him previously.
Kieran added: “This is a stable, self-made income that supports my London lifestyle and gives me more financial independence, a significant and positive change from my previous salaried role.”
Kieran says the days of long commutes and repetitive office work are long gone, and the flexible working he now has has helped “empower” him.
He said: “Using Airtasker has had a significant impact on my outlook on work.
“It’s revolutionised work for me.
“It makes me feel more in control of what I can pick up and when.
“It’s changed my life.”
Alongside the financial security, he enjoys meeting new people and working with friendly customers.
Some of his most memorable tasks have even involved working for celebrities.
However, Kieran has also faced challenges along the way, particularly when Covid hit and in-person work became impossible.
He added: “It has worked out well for me, but the biggest challenges I have faced are the lack of stability that comes with being self-employed.
“A prime example is during Covid where I was unable to enter people’s homes.
“It was a scary time and that’s the downside.
“There are definite pros and cons and it’s about working out what’s best for you.
“I wasn’t happy getting on the same train to and from work to sit in front of a computer and having a different situation to manage every day keeps me stimulated.”
Despite the ups and downs, Kieran says the positives far outweigh any issues he’s faced.
He added: “The best part about running my own business is the freedom it gives you.
“You can pick your hours which on a personal level is such a huge bonus.
“Travelling at rush hour is always an uncomfortable situation and being able to work around the mad rush makes the day a lot more stress-free.
“It’s also great being able to make time for situations that arise in life without having to ask for permission first.”
