Carpentry and Joinery Apprentice

The Trade of Carpentry & Joinery is very wide and varied. It encompasses most of the skills required by the wood trades. These skills are not confined to working with wood alone, but also include the use of metals, plastics, and fabrics. The Carpenter & Joiner is required to work across a range of domains within the overall trade.

Areas of Work

Joinery Shop

This section of the occupation requires the Carpenter & Joiner to engage in setting out, production, and assembly of joinery items, including stairs, doors, windows, and built-in furniture.

Site Work

Site work involves the construction of buildings or houses and includes first fixing, formwork, roofing, and second fixing. This section is divided into two categories: construction and civil engineering contracts.

Maintenance

Maintenance work requires the Carpenter & Joiner to carry out a variety of tasks related to the general maintenance and upkeep of public and private buildings, such as shops and factories.

Other areas associated with the trade include renovating buildings, shopfitting, and exhibition or display work.

Competencies at the End of Apprenticeship

At the end of the apprenticeship, the craftsperson will be able to demonstrate competence in the following skills:

• Construction of upper floors

• Construction of flat roofs

• Construction of pitched roofs

• Construction of hip roofs

• Construction of trussed (pitching) roofs

• Construction of load-bearing and non-load-bearing partitions

• Fabrication and erection of formwork for walls, columns, floors, and stairs

Doors and Windows

• Construction and hanging of framed and sheeted doors

• Construction and hanging of panelled doors

• Construction and hanging of flush doors

• Construction and installation of internal and external door frames

• Construction and installation of windows

Fixing and Tools

• Carrying out first and second fixing on buildings

• Operation of powered hand tools, including:

  • Saw

  • Planer

  • Drill

  • Router

  • Screwdriver

  • Ballistic gun

  • Sander

  • Jigsaw

Specialist Skills

• Construction of moulds

• Construction of centres for arches

• Construction of specialist joinery

• Construction of fittings

• Setting out buildings

• Site levelling

Personal Skills

• Communication

• Customer relations

• Adaptability

• Ability to work as a team member

• Ability to work independently

• Initiative

• Problem solving

• Planning

Technical and Work Skills

• Information gathering

• Quality systems

• Safety

• Use and care of hand tools

• Interpreting drawings

• Measurement

• Setting out and marking out

• Production planning

• Calculations

• Work practices

• Use of manufactured boards

• Fixings

• Ironmongery

• Basic wood joints

• K/D fittings

• Setting up and operating machines for specific operations