Apprentice Furniture Maker
THE PANEL FACTORY LTD
Dudley (DY2 0UW)
Closes in 10 days (Monday 15 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 1 September 2025
Contents
Summary
Become an Apprentice Furniture Maker and learn to craft commercial furniture from scratch. You’ll gain hands-on experience making items like shop counters, wall panels, and vanity tops, while building valuable skills for a career in the industry.
- Wage
-
£14,722.50 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Furniture making operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 8.00am - 4.00pm.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 6 October 2025
- Duration
-
1 year 6 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
- Assist experienced team members with day-to-day tasks in the workshop
- Receive training on using hand tools and understanding safety procedures
- Complete simple tasks such as preparing materials and basic assembly
- Learn to operate machinery safely as skills progress
- Work with materials like laminate, MDF, MFC, and Solid Surface
- Help produce and assemble standard stock items
- Develop skills in specific areas, with the opportunity to specialise based on interests and strengths
Where you'll work
Unit D2, Peartree Industrial Park
Crackley Way, Peartree Lane
Dudley
DY2 0UW
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
DUDLEY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
Training course
Furniture making operative (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Read and interpret job specifications, technical drawings or information for furniture making activity.
- Plan furniture making activity including timescales for completion, and organise materials and resources.
- Prepare and maintain the work area.
- Apply safe systems of working including risk assessment.
- Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
- Follow workplace operating procedures.
- Store tools and equipment.
- Select tools, equipment, and machinery for furniture making activity.
- Apply first line maintenance of, tools, equipment, and machinery. For example, checking tool condition, cleaning, lubrication, visual inspection, tool calibration.
- Set up and operate furniture making machinery.
- Identify and select materials used in furniture making.
- Apply preparation techniques to materials.
- Prepare and use jigs and templates used in the work activity. Check jigs and templates for damage.
- Measure and mark out materials including measurement tool calibration checks.
- Manufacture furniture components including cutting and shaping.
- Apply jointing techniques to produce furniture components.
- Assemble and secure furniture components in position, for example clamping and gluing techniques.
- Attach furniture fittings and fixtures.
- Carry out rectification, repair and rework of manufactured furniture.
- Follow quality assurance processes.
- Pack and store components and products.
- Record furniture making activity information - paper based or electronic.
- Apply basic continuous improvement techniques. For example, lean manufacturing, six sigma, 5S and KAIZEN.
- Apply team working principles.
- Apply escalation procedures in relation to faults or issues.
- Follow equity, diversity and inclusion rules.
- Communicate verbally with colleagues and supervisors.
- Communicate in writing with colleagues and supervisors using industry terminology electronically or paper based.
- Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Undertake and record learning and development activities.
- Read and interpret job specifications, technical drawings or information for furniture making activity.
- Plan furniture making activity including timescales for completion, and organise materials and resources.
- Prepare and maintain the work area.
- Apply safe systems of working including risk assessment.
- Follow health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
- Follow workplace operating procedures.
- Store tools and equipment.
- Select tools, equipment, and machinery for furniture making activity.
- Apply first line maintenance of, tools, equipment, and machinery. For example, checking tool condition, cleaning, lubrication, visual inspection, tool calibration.
- Set up and operate furniture making machinery.
- Identify and select materials used in furniture making.
- Apply preparation techniques to materials.
- Prepare and use jigs and templates used in the work activity. Check jigs and templates for damage.
- Measure and mark out materials including measurement tool calibration checks.
- Manufacture furniture components including cutting and shaping.
- Apply jointing techniques to produce furniture components.
- Assemble and secure furniture components in position, for example clamping and gluing techniques.
- Attach furniture fittings and fixtures.
- Carry out rectification, repair and rework of manufactured furniture.
- Follow quality assurance processes.
- Pack and store components and products.
- Record furniture making activity information - paper based or electronic.
- Apply basic continuous improvement techniques. For example, lean manufacturing, six sigma, 5S and KAIZEN.
- Apply team working principles.
- Apply escalation procedures in relation to faults or issues.
- Follow equity, diversity and inclusion rules.
- Communicate verbally with colleagues and supervisors.
- Communicate in writing with colleagues and supervisors using industry terminology electronically or paper based.
- Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Undertake and record learning and development activities.
Training schedule
Furniture Making Operative Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard:
- On-the-job training will initially be provided by our more experienced staff
- Ongoing training is also offered through external providers in areas such as Health and Safety, Fire Safety, and Manual Handling. In addition, specific training is available to support staff who wish to specialise in particular areas of the production process
- The apprentice will attend off-the-job training one day a week at the CAT Centre, Waterfront Business Park, Brierley Hill, DY5 1LX
- The rest of the training will take place in the workplace, gaining hands-on experience alongside skilled professionals
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 1)
- Maths (grade 1)
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
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
Things to consider: We do not fit furniture on site. We do not manufacture stairs or windows. We specialise in making bespoke commercial panels and furniture from laminated, MDF, and MFC panels. Key machines in our production process include the CNC machine, Beam Saw, and Industrial Edge Bander.
About this employer
The Panel Factory Ltd is a small, friendly family-run business with a supportive and inclusive working environment. Our team includes a mix of experienced professionals and younger staff, creating a balanced and collaborative atmosphere. We value and appreciate every member of our team and are committed to investing time and training into our apprentices. As a rapidly growing company, we see our younger employees as the future of the business and provide strong support to help them develop and succeed in their careers.
After this apprenticeship
- Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, the apprentice will be offered a permanent role at The Panel Factory. Depending on their skills and interests, they will have the opportunity to specialise in a specific area of the production process, such as machining, assembly, or solid surface fabrication
- There may also be opportunities for further training and advancement within the company
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
DUDLEY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
Leanne O'Neill
leanne.oneill@dudleycol.ac.uk
01384363380
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000339652.
Apply now
Closes in 10 days (Monday 15 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
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