Woodworking and Joinery Apprenticeships- Find out more

This section aims to provide you with more information on specific woodworking and joinery apprenticeships including a broad overview, course duration and the required occupation duties.

Carpentry and Joinery

The broad purpose of the occupation is working with building materials (most often wood) to create and install building components. This typically involves shaping and cutting materials, installing finished materials like partitions, doors, staircases, window frames, mouldings, timber floor coverings and erecting structural components such as floor joists and roofs. All work needs to be carried out safely, using the appropriate tools and to the quality specified.

This occupation includes two different options and people will either work on a construction site as a Site Carpenter or in a workshop as an Architectural Joiner.

A Site Carpenter will prepare and install basic building components e.g. doors, straight staircases, wall and floor units and erecting structural carpentry and roof structures on a building site or in domestic and commercial premises.

An Architectural Joiner will produce building components by setting out, marking out and manufacturing basic architectural products, including doors, windows, straight staircases and associated ironmongery.

Typical Duration: 24 months

Occupation Duties

Site Carpenter

Duty 1 – Identify and confirm carpentry or joinery requirements and components against specification/drawings/CAD/BIM and in accordance with Building Regulations.
Duty 2 – Locate, handle, store, load, transport and position materials and components safely, minimising damage so they are ready for application.
Duty 3 – Prepare the site/workshop (including access equipment when necessary), power and hand tools appropriate to the project.
Duty 4 – Calculate the most efficient quantity, length and area of resources.
Duty 5 – Use and maintain hand tools, power tools and associated equipment to achieve optimum performance.
Duty 6 – Maintain a clear and tidy workspace and ensure that waste materials are disposed of in accordance with current legislation.
Duty 7 – Carry out quality checks against specification and take remedial action where required or instructed.
Duty 8 – Install building components including door and window frames, door and hatch linings, floor joists and coverings, straight partitions, and straight staircases.
Duty 9 – Install doors, mouldings, ironmongery, service encasements, wall and floor units and fitments, cladding and staircase components.
Duty 10 – Erect inclined roofs with gables, joists, roof coverings and roof components.

Architectural Joinery

Duty 1 – Identify and confirm carpentry or joinery requirements and components against specification/drawings/CAD/BIM and in accordance with Building Regulations.
Duty 2 – Locate, handle, store, load, transport and position materials and components safely, minimising damage so they are ready for application.
Duty 3 – Prepare the site/workshop (including access equipment when necessary), power and hand tools appropriate to the project.
Duty 4 – Calculate the most efficient quantity, length and area of resources.
Duty 5 – Use and maintain hand tools, power tools and associated equipment to achieve optimum performance.
Duty 6 – Maintain a clear and tidy workspace and ensure that waste materials are disposed of in accordance with current legislation.
Duty 7 – Carry out quality checks against specification and take remedial action where required or instructed.
Duty 8 – Produce setting out details for the manufacture of doors, windows and opening lights, units, and stairs.
Duty 9 – Mark out timber from setting out details for the manufacture of doors, windows and opening lights, units and/or fitments and staircases.
Duty 10 – Create, fit and assemble components to manufacture doors, windows with opening lights, units and/or fitments and staircases.
Duty 11 Operate fixed workshop machinery in order to create joinery components

For more detailed information on this apprenticeship visit: Carpentry and joinery / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education

Advanced Carpentry and Joinery Level 3

This occupation includes two different options and people will either work on a construction site as an Advanced Site Carpenter or in a workshop as an Advanced Architectural Joiner:

Advanced Site Carpenters work on building sites in the construction of domestic and commercial properties, preparing and installing complex and bespoke building components. They prepare, construct and erect irregular and complex roof structures.

Advanced Architectural Joiners are employed in a workshop producing complex building components by setting out, marking out and producing assembled components requiring advanced skilled work including the full range of woodworking machines. There will sometimes be a need for refurbishment/repair work of bespoke pieces. They have an in depth knowledge of a range of manufacturing components from a range of hardwoods and softwoods.

Typical Duration: 18 months

Occupation Duties

Advanced Site Carpenter

Duty 1 – Identify requirements, develop the work programme and schedule, plan their own work and that of the team accordingly, ensuring this is communicated clearly to colleagues.
Duty 2 – Complete work in respect of fire doors in accordance with current legislation.
Duty 3 – Interpret technical specifications and ensure compliance with legislation/guidance relevant to the work being done.
Duty 4 – Select the required quantity and quality of resources required for carrying out complex and non-standard work, including timber, tools and fixings.
Duty 5 – Take a lead when working in a team, especially when complex or non-standard work is involved.
Duty 6 – Utilise a range of advanced skills which allow them to carry out complex carpentry or joinery work to high standards and demanding tolerances including measuring, marking out, fitting, cutting, splicing, finishing, positioning and securing.
Duty 7 – Communicate professionally with colleagues, customers and stakeholders, providing a high level of customer service at all times.
Duty 8 – Carry out quality checks of own and others work against specification and take remedial action, providing instructions to others as to the work required.
Duty 9 – Carry out pre-use checks of all tools and equipment to be used for the project by self and colleagues, providing training and instruction where necessary.
Duty 10 – install complex and non-standard doors and window frames, shaped door and hatch linings, partitions with openings and changes of direction and staircases with turns.
Duty 11 – Install accessible service encasements, bespoke wall/ floor units and fitments, panelling and stair components (e.g. balustrades, handrails and spindles to staircases with turns).
Duty 12 – Erect inclined roofs with gables, roof verges and eaves, including finishings, joists and roof coverings, dormers and features.
Duty 13 – Repair and or replace frames, mouldings, floor or flat roof joist coverings, door and window ironmongery, window components, structural joists and rafters, window components, guttering and downpipes

Occupation Duties

Advanced Architectural Joiner

Duty 1 – Identify requirements, develop the work programme and schedule, plan their own work and that of the team accordingly, ensuring this is communicated clearly to colleagues.
Duty 2 – Complete work in respect of fire doors in accordance with current legislation.
Duty 3 – Interpret technical specifications and ensure compliance with legislation/guidance relevant to the work being done.
Duty 4 – Select the required quantity and quality of resources required for carrying out complex and non-standard work, including timber, tools and fixings.
Duty 5 – Take a lead when working in a team, especially when complex or non-standard work is involved.
Duty 6 – Utilise a range of advanced skills which allow them to carry out complex carpentry or joinery work to high standards and demanding tolerances including measuring, marking out, fitting, cutting, splicing, finishing, positioning, and securing.
Duty 7 – Communicate professionally with colleagues, customers, and stakeholders, providing a high level of customer service at all times.
Duty 8 – Carry out quality checks of own and others work against specification and take remedial action, providing instructions to others as to the work required.
Duty 9 – Carry out pre-use checks of all tools and equipment to be used for the project by self and colleagues, providing training and instruction where necessary.
Duty 10 – Set out complex work tasks for non-standard architectural joinery products, including complex door sets, doors, windows, units and fitments, staircases (straight and with turns) and products with single/double curvature features.
Duty 11 – Mark out accurately from setting out details for the manufacture of complex and shaped (circular and circular on circular) doors, opening windows, units and fitments and staircases.
Duty 12 – Manufacture complex and shaped (circular and circular on circular) architectural joinery products including doors, windows with opening lights, units and fitments, panelling/cladding, staircases (straight and with turns) and veneers.
Duty 13 – Set up and use fixed machinery such as circular saws, planers, thicknessers, bandsaws, morticers, tenoners, spindle moulders, grinders (including tool sharpening) and sanders.
Duty 14 – Use and maintain marking tools, hand tools, power tools and associated equipment required for advanced work.

For more detailed information on this apprenticeship visit: Advanced carpentry and joinery / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education

Wood Product Manufacturing Operative

The broad purpose of the occupation is to produce products from timber. Presenting a wide and varied specification for both external and interior applications, products such as roofing components, windows, doors, door-sets, staircases, and other timber items. They cut, layout and assemble materials, working to a specification. Depending on the product, they may install fixtures and fittings, apply finishes, and add glazing systems. Wood product manufacturing operatives typically work individually but can also form part of a larger production team and will report to the production supervisor/manager. Workplaces can be wide ranging from small workshops to large state of the art manufacturing facilities. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with customers, delivery personnel, design office, internal stores, and suppliers, depending on the size of the organisation. An employee in this occupation will be responsible for completing their own work to specification, with minimal supervision, ensuring they meet set deadlines. They are responsible for meeting quality requirements and working in accordance with health and safety and environmental considerations.

Typical Duration: 24 months

Occupation Duties

Duty 1 – Prepare a range of machinery, tools and equipment for the manufacturing process.
Duty 2 – Operate a range of machinery, tools and equipment to produce wood components and products to specification using a variety of raw materials.
Duty 3 – Identify defects with materials and machinery before and during the manufacturing process.
Duty 4 – Prepare wood components for the assembly process including sanding, positioning, and securing.
Duty 5 – Use a range of fixing techniques including joint assembly, installing mechanical fixings, and applying appropriate adhesives to form products to the given specification.
Duty 6 – Apply stains, sealers, and paints to wood products to comply with the specified product finish requirements.
Duty 7 – Install appropriate fixtures, fittings and glazing in accordance with the product specification, for example install glass to window or door.
Duty 8 – Undertake glazing operations in accordance with the product specification.
Duty 9 – Assess for post manufacture and assembly product defects and undertake appropriate rectification work.
Duty 10 – Package and store products in accordance with organisational procedures.

For more detailed information on this apprenticeship visit: Wood product manufacturing operative / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education