Carpentry and joinery
Level 2 · IntermediateConstruction and the built environment 2 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
The Carpentry and Joinery apprenticeship teaches the core craft skills of working with timber to construct, install and finish building components such as doors, windows, floors, roofs and staircases. Apprentices may focus on either site carpentry or bench joinery, developing precision and practical skills. It leads to specialist carpenter, joiner, estimator or site management roles.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Timber properties, defects and selection for different uses
Use of hand tools including saws, chisels and planes
Setting up and operating woodworking machinery
Fixing and installing first and second fix carpentry items
Bench joinery including door and window construction
Reading construction drawings and setting out work
Safe working practices including dust control and PPE
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Mark out and cut timber components to drawing dimensions
Fix floor joists, stud partitions and roof timbers on site
Hang and fit doors, architraves and skirting boards
Construct and install staircases, handrails and balustrades
Make and fit window frames, door sets and fitted furniture
Use routers, planers and other machinery in the workshop
Maintain and sharpen hand tools to a professional standard
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 2 (Intermediate) - roughly GCSE level. Often open with few or no formal qualifications - a strong first step. Some employers ask for a couple of GCSEs.
What’s next: Typically leads on to a Level 3 (Advanced) apprenticeship.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
No employer videos yet for this apprenticeship. Employers offering it can add one to show young people what the role is really like.