Apprentice Bench Joiner

WJL CONTRACTS LTD

STOKE ON TRENT (ST4 3RR)

Closes in 14 days (Friday 12 September 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 28 August 2025

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Summary

As a bespoke Joinery Manufacturer, you will be operating in a fast paced client driven environment, working on prestigious projects, including multi-million pound contracts. You will learn skills from from design to end product. Although you wont be working on site, you will have the opportunity for site visits,

Wage

£16,500 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Annual performance review which may result in salary increase.

Training course
Wood product manufacturing operative (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Thursday, 8.00am - 4.30pm and Friday, 8.00am - 4.00pm These working hours are subject to change.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 15 September 2025

Duration

2 years

Positions available

2

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

  • Working with the design team drawing the furniture
  • Selecting materias for use
  • Operating CNC machines and traditional woodworking machinery
  • Use of hand and power tools to construct furniture
  • Working in the spray shop to finish products 
  • Signing off quality assesment forms of finished products
  • Packaging ready for delivery 

Where you'll work

UNIT 1&2
ORMONDE STREET
FENTON
STOKE ON TRENT
ST4 3RR

Training

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

Training provider

STOKE ON TRENT COLLEGE

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

  • Wood Product Manufacturing Operative Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard
  • You will attend Stoke on Trent College one day per week

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 3)
  • Maths (grade 3)

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
  • Presentation skills
  • Number skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental

About this employer

We are WJL – combining technology with tradition – we provide an excellent framework for supplying bespoke joinery to the commercial, leisure, healthcare, education and fit-out sectors.

https://wjlcontracts.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

  • Permanent Bench Joiner position available upoin successful completion of apprenticeship

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

STOKE ON TRENT COLLEGE

Rachel Ferneyhough

rachel.ferneyhough@stokecoll.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000339203.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Friday 12 September 2025 at 11:59pm)

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