Furniture finisher
Level 2 · IntermediateEngineering and manufacturing 1.3 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
A Furniture Finisher apprenticeship trains you in the specialist skills of applying stains, paints, lacquers, waxes, and other surface treatments to furniture and wooden products to achieve the desired colour, texture, and protective finish. You will work in furniture manufacturing, restoration, or bespoke workshops. This standard leads to specialist finishing technician, quality control, or colour mixing roles in furniture production.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Types of finishes - lacquers, paints, oils, waxes, and stains
Surface preparation including sanding, filling, and sealing
Spray application techniques and spray gun operation
Colour mixing and matching techniques
Health, safety, and COSHH in a finishing environment
Quality inspection of finished surfaces
Care and cleaning of spray equipment
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Prepare furniture surfaces by sanding and filling
Apply stains and base coats to achieve specified colour
Spray lacquer or paint finishes using spray equipment
Apply hand finishes such as wax and oil
Inspect finished products for defects and rectify issues
Mix and match colours to specification
Clean and maintain spray guns and finishing equipment
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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