A carpentry and joinery apprenticeship course entails the manipulation of wood-based materials and related products to fabricate and assemble building elements. This typically encompasses tasks such as helping molding and cutting materials and installing finished products like partitions, doors, staircases, window frames, moldings, timber floor coverings, and erecting structural elements like floor joists and roofs. All work must be conducted safely, using proper tools, and adhering to specified quality standards.
What you’ll learn
On a carpentry and joinery apprenticeship course, you’ll learn to:
- Understand health and safety regulations and their impact on your role, including control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH), fire safety, Health and Safety at work act, asbestos awareness, manual handling, safety signage, situational awareness, slips, trips, and falls, working in confined spaces, working at height, provision and use of work equipment regulations (puwer), and electrical safety.
- Implement safe work systems, including site inductions, toolbox talks, risk assessments, method statements, and hazard identification in the work area.
- Recognise the environmental impact of the construction sector, with a focus on efficient resource usage, recycling, reuse, safe waste disposal, and sustainable forestry practices.
- Master the principles of building and modern construction methods, covering foundations, roofs, walls, damp-proof courses, floors, timber frames, structurally insulated panels (sips), utilities and services, internal plaster finishes, insulation, fire protection, moisture and air protection, and material quality.
- Understand basic principles of digital design and modelling systems in construction.
- Adhere to standards and regulations associated with carpentry activities, including British standards, building regulations, and warranty provider standards.
- Grasp the characteristics of timber and timber-based products, homegrown and imported, including natural timber products like hardwood and softwood and manufactured timber products such as boards, laminated timber, and carcassing.
- Embrace the principles of effective teamwork.
- Promote inclusion, equity, and diversity in the workplace.
- Master site carpentry techniques such as measuring, marking, fitting, cutting (straight and angled), and mitring.
- Understand timber sizing tables and their purpose and use in site carpentry.
- Understand types, use, calibration, and storage of laser levels.
- Use of fixed machinery, inspection, preparation, and operation techniques for crosscuts, band saws, planers, thicknessers, and mortises in architectural joinery.
- Understand different employment types (self-employed and employed), small business start-up principles, and taxation considerations.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- Level 2 apprenticeships don’t require any formal qualifications.
Assessment methods
The programme is assessed in various ways before completing the End Point Assessment, including an interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence.
Restrictions and requirements
- Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end-point assessment.
Duration, level, subjects and potential salary upon completion
- Duration: 24 months
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Level: 24 – Intermediate Apprenticeship
- Relevant school subjects: DT
- Potential salary upon completion: £30,000 per annum
Apprenticeship standard
More information about the Level 3 Carpentry and Joinery standard can be found here.
Apprenticeship end point assessment
For more information about the End Point Assessment Process, please read the Institute of Apprenticeships’ information page.