'I needed to become as much of a businessman as a craftsman': Bangor man reaches out to help build his dream in wood

A Bangor woodworker who swapped a successful IT career for a life of craftsmanship is carving a new future with help from Northern Ireland’s enterprise support service Go Succeed.

Justin Wood NI, founded by Mark Justin in 2016, has become a sought-after workshop for beautifully handcrafted furniture and woodworking classes – drawing clients from across Ireland and even as far afield as Canada.

His journey began in his late granda’s workshop – also a woodworker – where Mark spent countless hours as a child playing, experimenting and developing a passion for woodwork. But for much of his adult life, Mark worked in IT, climbing the corporate ladder and finding success - but not happiness. He describes that period as a “mental trap,” where, despite being physically fit and financially secure, he struggled with a growing sense of unease and panic

Reflecting on his journey and how he got to where he is, Mark said: “I had a moment of clarity in my 30s - I was doing well professionally, but I was completely unfulfilled. There’s a saying, ‘You have two lives. One life, and then the life you start living when you realise you only have one.’ That really hit home for me.”