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Apprentice Bench Joiner
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As an Apprentice Bench Joiner
As an apprentice bench joiner, you will learn to craft and assemble bespoke timber products (like kitchens, wardrobes, and media walls) in our workshop. Working alongside experienced joiners, you will mark out and cut wood, and make cabinetry with dovetailed drawer boxes.
Wage
£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training Course
Furniture making operative (level 2)
Hours
- Monday to Thursday: 8am - 5pm
- Monday to Friday: 8am - 4.30pm.
- 40 hours a week
Start Date
Tuesday 1 September 2026
Duration
1 year 6 months
Positions Available
1
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working.
You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
This hands-on, full-time apprenticeship is designed to equip you with the fundamental skills of traditional and modern joinery. You will transition from basic workshop duties such as shadowing joiners and training, to manufacturing high-quality, made-to-measure timber products using a combination of hand tools and modern machinery.
An average day for an apprentice bench joiner working at Hovingham Interiors would consist of:
- Arriving promptly at start work at 8am
- Helping load the works van for any deliveries taking place
- Helping on site with deliveries and fitting
- Shadowing experienced joiner learning basic woodwork skills and learning to read working drawings
- Assembling cabinetry and setting out kitchens etc.
- Wrapping manufactured units for the following days safe transport
- Sweeping and tidying up workshop
- End of the working day is 5pm
Where you'll work
RICCALL DRIVE YORK ROAD INDUSTRIAL PARK YORK ROAD MALTON YO17 6YE
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
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Training Provider
YORK COLLEGE
Training Course
Furniture making operative (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course Contents
- Read and interpret job specifications, technical drawings or information for furniture making activity.
- Plan furniture making activity including timescales for completion, and organise materials and resources.
- Prepare and maintain the work area.
- Apply safe systems of working including risk assessment.
- Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
- Follow workplace operating procedures.
- Store tools and equipment.
- Select tools, equipment, and machinery for furniture making activity.
- Apply first line maintenance of, tools, equipment, and machinery. For example, checking tool condition, cleaning, lubrication, visual inspection, tool calibration.
- Set up and operate furniture making machinery.
- Identify and select materials used in furniture making.
- Apply preparation techniques to materials.
- Prepare and use jigs and templates used in the work activity. Check jigs and templates for damage.
- Measure and mark out materials including measurement tool calibration checks.
- Manufacture furniture components including cutting and shaping.
- Apply jointing techniques to produce furniture components.
- Assemble and secure furniture components in position, for example clamping and gluing techniques.
- Attach furniture fittings and fixtures.
- Carry out rectification, repair and rework of manufactured furniture.
- Follow quality assurance processes.
- Pack and store components and products.
- Record furniture making activity information - paper based or electronic.
- Apply basic continuous improvement techniques. For example, lean manufacturing, six sigma, 5S and KAIZEN.
- Apply team working principles.
- Apply escalation procedures in relation to faults or issues.
- Follow equity, diversity and inclusion rules.
- Communicate verbally with colleagues and supervisors.
- Communicate in writing with colleagues and supervisors using industry terminology electronically or paper based.
- Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Undertake and record learning and development activities.
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Training Schedule
Furniture Making Operative Level 2.
Off the job training will take place at York College on a day release basis (Monday) and the remainder of the training will be in the workplace.
Essential Qualifications
- GCSE in:
- Any other subject (grade 3)
- English (grade 3)
- Maths (grade 3)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Hovingham Interiors
Hovingham Interiors have been creating and fitting superior quality hand crafted kitchens and home interiors for over 40 years.
Each kitchen is completely unique. We design, create and fit kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms according to the specific needs of our customers. No two projects are ever the same.
https://www.hovinghaminteriors.com/ (opens in new tab)
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Upon completion of this apprenticeship, we will discuss the opportunity of an ongoing role with Hovingham Interiors.
Contact
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
YORK COLLEGE Apprenticeships@yorkcollege.ac.uk 01904 770368
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000043634.
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