Wood Product Manufacturing Apprentice (Balmoral Joinery)
BALMORAL JOINERY LTD
SWALWELL (NE16 3AD)
Closes in 17 days (Friday 5 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 19 August 2025
Contents
Summary
Are you passionate about working with your hands and creating high-quality wood products? Join our Wood Product Manufacturing Apprenticeship at Balmoral Joinery and gain hands-on experience in a dynamic, creative environment. Grow your skills, master your craft, and become part of a team that values tradition, precision, and innovation.
- Wage
-
£15,311.40 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Wood product manufacturing operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Thursday 7:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 1pm.
39 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 15 September 2025
- Duration
-
2 years
- 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
Your apprenticeship will be spent in the workplace, learning on-the-job by getting hands-on experience.
As a wood product manufacturing apprentice at Balmoral, you’ll be immersed in real-world, hands-on experience. Under the guidance of experienced professionals, you’ll contribute to the entire production process, from raw material to finished product.
Key Tasks and Duties:
- Identify and select appropriate wood species for different projects
- Measure, mark, and cut timber to precise specifications
- Prepare wood surfaces through planing, sanding, and shaping
- Safely operate woodworking tools and machines (saws, lathes, routers, etc.)
- Maintain tools and equipment in good working condition
- Always follow safety procedures and workshop protocols
- Construct components using traditional and modern joinery techniques
- Read and interpret technical drawings or plans
- Assemble wood parts accurately with attention to detail
- Apply finishes such as oils, stains, or lacquers to protect and enhance wood surfaces
- Inspect completed products for defects or inconsistencies
- Perform touch-ups or refinements as needed to meet quality standards
- Keep the workshop clean, organised, and stocked with materials
- Assist in inventory checks and ordering supplies
- Support team members with various workshop tasks as needed
This apprenticeship is designed to build your technical skills, craftsmanship, and understanding of the full production process, setting you up for a successful career in wood manufacturing.
Where you'll work
HEXHAM ROAD
SWALWELL
NE16 3AD
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
DARLINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL
Training course
Wood product manufacturing operative (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Comply with health, safety and environmental requirements, for example safe use of personal and respiratory protective equipment, local exhaust ventilation, statutory regulations and industry standards/codes of practice.
- Identify risks and hazards in the workplace and apply appropriate control measures.
- Comply with organisational and statutory environmental and sustainability considerations, for example disposal of waste, recycling of materials and efficient use of resources.
- Communicate - verbal and/or written, for example with colleagues and/or customers.
- Plan work to undertake wood product manufacturing operations.
- Read and interpret specifications, diagrams and work instructions, and following these instructions.
- Select the correct type and quantity of components and materials.
- Prepare the work area before undertaking the work.
- Identify faults and issues, for example incorrect or defective wood, defective machinery; and applying solutions.
- Pack and store products and components.
- Select, set up and operate machinery, tools and equipment used to produce wood components.
- Prepare and operate Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) equipment.
- Use and maintain jigs and templates for wood product manufacturing operations.
- Position wood components and apply manual and mechanical cramps to ensure products are secured and in accordance with the work specification.
- Assemble wood components to the work specification and given tolerances.
- Sand materials and de-nib.
- Apply adhesives to wood components.
- Apply finishes to wood products, for example stains, sealers, basecoats and paint finishes.
- Instal fixtures and fittings to wood products, for example ironmongery, seals, ancillary metal work and fixings, nail plates and staples.
- Carry out glazing operations, for example install glass to window or door.
- Check and and inspect work to ensure it meets the work specification; undertake rectification or rework where necessary
- Report work outcomes and/or problems.
- Complete the handover process to other manufacturing process functions/teams.
- Complete work documentation, for example job sheets, time cards.
- Comply with health, safety and environmental requirements, for example safe use of personal and respiratory protective equipment, local exhaust ventilation, statutory regulations and industry standards/codes of practice.
- Identify risks and hazards in the workplace and apply appropriate control measures.
- Comply with organisational and statutory environmental and sustainability considerations, for example disposal of waste, recycling of materials and efficient use of resources.
- Communicate - verbal and/or written, for example with colleagues and/or customers.
- Plan work to undertake wood product manufacturing operations.
- Read and interpret specifications, diagrams and work instructions, and following these instructions.
- Select the correct type and quantity of components and materials.
- Prepare the work area before undertaking the work.
- Identify faults and issues, for example incorrect or defective wood, defective machinery; and applying solutions.
- Pack and store products and components.
- Select, set up and operate machinery, tools and equipment used to produce wood components.
- Prepare and operate Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) equipment.
- Use and maintain jigs and templates for wood product manufacturing operations.
- Position wood components and apply manual and mechanical cramps to ensure products are secured and in accordance with the work specification.
- Assemble wood components to the work specification and given tolerances.
- Sand materials and de-nib.
- Apply adhesives to wood components.
- Apply finishes to wood products, for example stains, sealers, basecoats and paint finishes.
- Instal fixtures and fittings to wood products, for example ironmongery, seals, ancillary metal work and fixings, nail plates and staples.
- Carry out glazing operations, for example install glass to window or door.
- Check and and inspect work to ensure it meets the work specification; undertake rectification or rework where necessary
- Report work outcomes and/or problems.
- Complete the handover process to other manufacturing process functions/teams.
- Complete work documentation, for example job sheets, time cards.
Training schedule
You will be completing the Level 2 Wood Product Manufacturing Apprenticeship Standard with Darlington Borough Council Learning & Skills, Darlington.
This apprenticeship is designed to equip participants with the fundamentals required to start a successful career. The programme can be delivered using a blend of online, anytime learning and expert-led classroom training covering core topics.
Throughout this Apprenticeship, participants will be supported by tutors who have worked in this environment and have gained many years of experience and who can truly support you to develop the skills and knowledge required to work in a wide range of manufacturing roles.
More training information
Training will be provided to achieve the following qualifications:
Level 2 Wood Product Manufacturing Operative Apprenticeship Standard
Training will take place weekly, primarily remotely, with additional meetings planned if required. During the course you will develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours to ensure these exceed the minimum requirements for the Wood Product Manufacturing Operative Apprenticeship Standard Level 2 apprenticeship standard.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 1+/G+)
- maths (grade 1+/G+)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
Travel to and from the employer, based at Hexham Rd, Swalwell, Newcastle upon Tyne NE16 3AD. This job role will be based in the employers workshop and is not an off-site job role or related to a site carpentry job role. The Apprenticeship National Minimum Wage guide (ANMW): https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates
About this employer
Balmoral Joinery Ltd is a bespoke joinery manufacturing firm that produces beautifully designed and constructed work to our customers’ specifications. Craftsmanship and attention to detail are two things we hold in high regard, and we firmly believe that this commitment to quality can be seen in everything we do. We provide a customised service in timber doors, windows, bi-folding doors, staircases, internal joinery and furniture, working with commercial, trade and domestic customers throughout the North East.
After this apprenticeship
Successful completion of the apprenticeship may lead to full-time employment and/ or further training.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
DARLINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL
Graham Curry
graham.curry@darlington.gov.uk
07949845325
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000337475.
Apply now
Closes in 17 days (Friday 5 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
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