Apprentice University Joiner - University of Oxford Estates Services

University of Oxford

Oxford (OX1 1NQ)

Closes in 8 days (Sunday 8 June 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 27 May 2025

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Summary

An exciting opportunity for you to join us as an Apprentice University Joiner at the University of Oxford. The University Joiners are a team of highly-skilled craftsmen who work for the University with the primary purpose to maintain, repair and build items for University buildings and University Colleges.

Wage

£25,331 a year

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Training course
Carpentry and joinery (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday, full-time. Times to be confirmed. This is a 23 month apprenticeship within a two year employment contract.

36 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 14 July 2025

Duration

1 year 11 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

You will work as an Apprentice University Joiner. You will be required to complete a 23 months training programme that will cover all aspects of the role and will be delivered through in-house training, as well as day-release or other distance learning methods delivered by Abingdon and Witney College at their Bicester Construction Skills Centre. College attendance and successful completion of these studies is an essential requirement of this Apprenticeship. Successful candidates will be friendly and approachable with a positive attitude, strong work ethic and a good understanding of customer service.

The University Joiners are a team of highly-skilled craftsmen who work for the University with the primary purpose to maintain, repair and build items for University buildings and University Colleges. These items will be produced to the highest quality using a number of production techniques and will include the installation of items where required.

The post holder will be required to undertake a range of duties and responsibilities to include the following:

  • To undertake work as directed by the Joinery Workshop Supervisor
  • Learn to carry out general joinery tasks involving operating a range of woodworking machinery and tools and carrying out tasks such as setting out, fabricating and machining, all in accordance with the training provided by the apprenticeship framework
  • Assist with the fitting of joinery items around the University
  • Work under instruction and having regard to safe working practices as set out in Risk Assessments and Method Statements
  • With support understand and be familiar with all relevant safety documents and to undertake any relevant health and safety training and to work in accordance with this
  • Support Estates Services in maintaining Customer Service Excellence standards
  • To fill out timesheets accurately and on a regular basis
  • Carry out such other comparable duties as may be required by their supervisor 

Pre-employment screening:

All offers of employment are made subject to standard pre-employment screening, as applicable to the post.   

If you are offered the post, you will be asked to provide proof of your right-to-work, your identity, and we will contact the referees you have nominated. You will also be asked to complete a health declaration (so that you can tell us about any health conditions or disabilities so that we can discuss appropriate adjustments with you), and a declaration of any unspent criminal convictions. 

Hazard-specific / Safety-critical duties: 

This job includes hazards or safety-critical activities.  If you are offered the post, you will be asked to complete a health questionnaire, which will be assessed by our Occupational Health Service (OHS), and the offer of employment will be subject a successful outcome of this assessment. 

The hazards or safety-critical duties involved are as follows: 

  • Working at heights
  • Regular manual handling 
        

Where you'll work

The Malthouse
Tidmarsh Lane
Oxford
OX1 1NQ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE

Your training course

Carpentry and joinery (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Comply with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
  • Identify and use safety control equipment, for example, RPE, dust suppression, PPE and LEV.
  • Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
  • Comply with industry regulations, standards, and guidance.
  • Prepare and maintain a safe working area.
  • Interpret and use information from drawings and specifications.
  • Estimate required materials and produce a cutting list.
  • Verbally communicate with others, applying construction terminology.
  • Select, use and store hand tools.
  • Select, use and store power tools.
  • Maintain and sharpen hand tools.
  • Produce jigs.
  • Identifies well-being support available to self and others.
  • Site carpenter: Apply first fix techniques and practices for: 1. structural carcassing, 2. straight timber or metal partition walls, 3. floor joists 4. floor joist coverings and 5. straight flights of stairs.
  • Site carpenter: Install structural fixings.
  • Site carpenter: Size timber from sizing tables.
  • Site carpenter: Apply site second fix techniques and practices for:1. service encasement, 2. cladding 3. wall and floor units and fitments, 4. handrails and spindles to straight flights of stairs, 5. internal and external doors, 6. skirting boards and architrave, 7. window boards.
  • Site carpenter: Apply site carpenter techniques and practices to construction of rafter roofs, including trussed (prefabricated) and traditional (built on site) including the construction of verge, eaves and fitting loft access.
  • Site carpenter: Use and store laser levels for example cross line laser.
  • Site carpenter: Form connections, for example, using joints, nails, screws, bolts and adhesive.
  • Site carpenter: Apply measuring, marking out, cutting (square and angled), mitring, hinging and recessing techniques.
  • Site carpenter: Carrying out splicing and scribing techniques.
  • Architectural joiner: Produce setting out details, including setting rods, and mark out for timber products.
  • Architectural joiner: Produce basic woodworking joints including dovetail, bridal, mortise and tenon and halving.
  • Architectural joiner: Form connections using dowels, biscuit, staples and adhesives.
  • Architectural joiner: Apply techniques and practices to the manufacture and assembly of a timber window with casement including glazing rebates and associated ironmongery.
  • Architectural joiner: Apply manufacture and assembly techniques for first fix products: 1. straight staircases, 2. door frames and linings.
  • Architectural joiner: Apply manufacture and assembly techniques for second fix products: 1. timber doors, 2. wall and floor units, 3. timber mouldings, 4. staircase spindles and balustrades.
  • Architectural joiner: Fit ironmongery including door locks, door handles, door hinges, latches and draw runners.
  • Architectural joiner: Inspect, prepare and operate fixed machinery.
  • Comply with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
  • Identify and use safety control equipment, for example, RPE, dust suppression, PPE and LEV.
  • Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
  • Comply with industry regulations, standards, and guidance.
  • Prepare and maintain a safe working area.
  • Interpret and use information from drawings and specifications.
  • Estimate required materials and produce a cutting list.
  • Verbally communicate with others, applying construction terminology.
  • Select, use and store hand tools.
  • Select, use and store power tools.
  • Maintain and sharpen hand tools.
  • Produce jigs.
  • Identifies well-being support available to self and others.

Your training plan

Duration:

20 months practical training period, plus 3 months for End Point Assessment

Delivery model:

  • Work-based training with your employer
  • Day release during term time (approximately 1 day per week for 18 months)
  • Regular meetings with your training coordinator to monitor progress and well-being
  • Approximately 5 on-site assessment visits per year
  • Off the job training will count for at least 6 hours a week of an apprentice’s time at work

Qualifications included:

  • Level 2 Carpentry & Joinery Apprenticeship (Architectural Joiner)
    End Point Assessment:
  • Multiple choice knowledge test
  • Practical test
  • Professional discussion based on a portfolio of evidence

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English (grade A*-C/9-4 or equivalent)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Customer care skills
  • Number skills
  • Team working
  • Physical fitness
  • Proactive 'can-do' approach
  • Willing to learn new skills
  • Punctuality and time keeping
  • Safety conscious
  • Positive attitude
  • Strong work ethic

Other requirements

INTERVIEWS ARE PLANNED FOR THE 4th JULY 2025 for shortlisted candidates who have completed all of the eligibility checks. Your application will be judged solely on the basis of how you demonstrate that you meet the selection criteria stated in the job description. Please use your own words to answer the questions as AI generated answers tend to score lower and don't give the Hiring Manager a sense of why you are the right candidate for the role. As part of the recruitment process, longlisted candidates will be contacted directly by the Apprenticeship Training Provider and will be required to complete initial assessments in English and maths, provide an up-to-date CV and book onto a short eligibility assessment telephone call where you can also find out more about the apprenticeship and ask any questions you may have. Please note that you must respond promptly to training provider email and phone requests for information or your application may be rejected. By applying for this vacancy, you are giving the Training Provider permission to undertake a Learner Record Service check on your previous qualifications. The Training Provider for this apprenticeship is Abingdon & Witney College. If you would like to talk to them about the assessments, please call on 01235 216216. We make every effort to ensure that applicants from non-traditional academic backgrounds or those who may not have the formal GCSE entry requirements can access apprenticeships where possible.

About this company

We are the largest employer in Oxfordshire with around 16,000 staff working in and around Oxford in a huge range of roles. Our apprentices are never on their own and will benefit from a supportive environment working in collaboration with the rest of our committed team. You will also be supported by the central apprenticeship team and you will join our growing network of apprentices within the university. You will have the opportunity to become an apprenticeship ambassador for the University and region. We will provide you with a welcoming and inclusive workplace, offering support and development opportunities that will enable you to progress and do your best work. We recognise diversity as our strength, vital for innovation and creativity, and we aspire to build a truly diverse community, which values and respects every individual’s unique contribution.

https://estates.admin.ox.ac.uk/maintenance (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

You'll enjoy 38 days’ paid holiday, generous pension schemes, travel discounts and professional development opportunities. Free entry to the Botanic Gardens and university colleges, and discounts at university museums.

After this apprenticeship

Over 80% of our apprentices continue with us in the role they have been trained for after their apprenticeship and that is just the start of their career.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE

Jane Phipps

apprenticeships@abingdon-witney.ac.uk

01235 216216

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000322142.

Apply now

Closes in 8 days (Sunday 8 June 2025 at 11:59pm)

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