Wood machinist
Level 2 · IntermediateEngineering and manufacturing 2 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
A wood machinist operates specialist woodworking machinery to cut, shape, and profile timber and sheet materials for furniture, joinery, construction, or manufacturing. You will set up and run machines such as bandsaws, spindle moulders, CNC routers, and planers to produce accurate components from technical drawings. It is a skilled manufacturing role with opportunities to progress into CNC programming, machine setting, or workshop management.
On the job
What you’ll learn
How to read woodworking drawings and interpret machining specifications
Safe setting up and operation of key wood machining equipment
How to select and change cutting tools and set depths and angles
Timber species, sheet materials, and their machining characteristics
Quality control - how to measure and check components against tolerances
COSHH, dust extraction, noise, and machine guarding requirements
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Set up machines with correct tooling, guards, and fence settings
Machine timber or sheet materials to drawing dimensions
Inspect finished components using tapes, squares, and gauges
Change worn or damaged tooling safely and to specification
Maintain dust extraction systems and clear waste material regularly
Report machine faults or guarding issues to the supervisor
Keep a production record of components machined and any rejects
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
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