Bespoke furniture making apprenticeship

N E J STEVENSON LTD

RUGBY (CV23 9HD)

Closes on Tuesday 30 June 2026

Posted on 28 May 2026

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Summary

N.E.J. Stevenson Ltd is a world-renowned designer and manufacturer of bespoke furniture and architectural joinery. You will be trained by skilled craftspeople, gaining knowledge of machining, cabinetmaking and polishing. On successful completion of the course and attaining the standard required, you will be offered a position at the company.

Wage

£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Second year will be a minimum of the standard National Minimum wage plus enhancements for performance and achievement where applicable.

Training course
Furniture manufacturer (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday is usually between 9.00am - 5.00pm, weekdays, overtime as agreed. One 15 minute paid morning break and one 30-minute lunch break unpaid.

40 hours a week

Start date

Friday 11 September 2026

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

  • You will undertake extended periods within each department learning to select timber and veneers
  • You will become competent in using basic machinery and power tools as well as learning construction techniques and manual skills
  • You will learn the importance of accuracy, attention to detail and the importance of thorough preparation prior to the finishing process
  • You will learn how to mix stains and apply primers and topcoat spray lacquers

Where you'll work

CHURCH LAWFORD BUSINESS CENTRE
LIMESTONE HALL LANE
CHURCH LAWFORD
RUGBY
CV23 9HD

Training

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

Training provider

ACTIVATE LEARNING

Training course

Furniture manufacturer (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Maintain Tools & Equipment: Perform regular autonomous maintenance tasks on machinery, tools and equipment used.
  • Problem Solving: Identify issues quickly, solve problems and apply appropriate solutions
  • Achieve quality and output targets: Carry out work to required quality standards and output targets. High attention to detail, must monitor and check work meets specifications and must follow methodology and processes.
  • Health & Safety: Comply with health, safety and environmental requirements, relevant statutory regulations and industry standards/codes of practice at all times
  • Spring Making: Prepare work area, set up machine for appropriate spring type and size and produce springs to the required specification
  • Quilting: Prepare for and carry out mattress quilting operations. Understand and operate quilting machines
  • Tape Edging: Prepare work area, set up machinery, select materials and carry out tape edging. Tape edging is usually the final process in mattress making. It involves closing the mattress up by the application of a tape using a sewing machine
  • Hand Side Stitching: Identify and sort components and sew materials to specification
  • Panel Cutting: Prepare and cut fabric and components used for panels. Understand and use any machinery used in this process
  • Mattress Assembly: Assemble mattresses using appropriate components such as spring units and fillings to agreed standards. This will involve the use of equipment such as a glue spray and staple guns.
  • Tufting: Tuft mattresses to appropriate pattern and standard
  • Sewing: Produce sewn / seamed components by hand and through the use of machinery
  • Headboard Upholstery: Upholster headboards including pleats, deep buttoning, ruching and fluting
  • Upholstery: Prepare, cut and apply upholstery materials, trim and finish divans
  • CNC Routing: Prepare, set up, operate and maintain computer numerically controlled (CNC) machinery to produce shaped headboards
  • Wood Machining: Prepare, set up, operate and maintain machinery to produce wood components
  • Laying and Cutting Fabrics: Prepare and cut fabric and components
  • Frame Making: Prepare and assemble frames using jigs
  • Drawer Making: Upholster drawer fronts, prepare and assemble drawers
  • Ottoman / Adjustable Bed Frames: Produce ottoman or adjustable beds ensuring the mechanisms are correctly attached and in working order
  • Preparation: Production Process & Flow Requirements: Prepare, arrange and coordinate material flow through identified work stations following required production route
  • Finishing: Rectification / Rework: Identify faulty products and undertake rectification proces
  • Finishing: Safe Handling and Storage: Pack and label products in the required format according to customer specification
  • Optional: Lay Up, Measure & Mark Out: Operate manual and / or automatic fabric spreading equipment using safe systems of work.
  • Optional: Cut Shapes: Cut shapes using manual hand held cutting equipment and / or CNC fabric cutter according to safe systems of work
  • Optional: Prepare Cut Parts & Sew Components: Prepare cut components ready for sewing and sew by hand through use of sewing machinery.
  • Optional: Prepare Cases: Prepare cases in line with filling requirements
  • Optional: Fill Cases: Fill cases through use of manual and / or automated filling methods
  • Optional: Finishing: Close filling opening to required standards through use of closing machin
  • Optional: Operate CNC Machinery: Prepare, set up and operate foam CNC & profiling machinery using safe systems of work.
  • Optional: Operate Large Cutting Machinery: Prepare, set up and operate vertical and horizontal cutting machines using safe systems of work.
  • Optional: Operate Small Cutting Machinery: Operate small cutting and shaping machinery using templates and jigs to ensure repeatability and accuracy of component parts
  • Optional: Prepare Components: Prepare all cut components along with required drawings ready for assembly
  • Optional: Automated Fabrication: Operate automated fabrication line to required operating procedures.
  • Optional: Manual Fabrication: Assemble cut parts through correct use of sprayed adhesive equipment and assembly techniques to the required tolerances and quality standards
  • Essential: Measure and Mark Out: Measure and mark out materials to specification within the acceptable tolerances following standard operating procedures.
  • Essential: Tooling: Select, prepare and maintain CNC/NC tooling.
  • Essential: Operate CNC/NC Machinery and Equipment: Operate CNC/NC machinery and equipment to meet company requirements. Prepare tools and equipment including tooling technology and calibration of measuring equipment.
  • Optional: Methods of Measurement: Inspect and use measuring equipment, keep tools and equipment clear of debris and dirt.
  • Optional: Jigs and Templates: Use and maintain jigs and templates for furniture production. Jigs are used to ensure repeatability and accuracy in the production of furniture. These can be hand held or mounted on workbenches.
  • Optional: Sanding: Sand materials for preparation prior to assembly, post-assembly and de-nibbing. Understand grit sizes and the process of sanding. This includes the use of wide belt sander, overhead narrow belt sander, disc sander, bobbin sander, linisher and profile sander.
  • Optional: Edge Banding: Carry out the edge-banding process following standard operating procedures. This includes colour matching, timber and PVC lippings, calibration and finishing techniques.
  • Optional: Planning : Prepare, set up and operate planes. This includes surface planer and thicknesser (can be a combined machine) and four sided planer and moulder (for planed all round).
  • Optional: Joints: Prepare, set up and operate CNC/NC machinery to produce jointed wood and wood­ based products. This includes chisel morticer, chain morticer, slot morticer, dovetailer, vertical spindle moulder, stair router, single-end tenoner, double-end tenoner, round-end tenoner, dowler and router
  • Optional: Assembly: Assemble components of furniture following standard operating procedures.
  • Preparation: Requirements: Analyse and agree finishing requirements following organisational procedures. A customer can be internal or external to the organisation.
  • Preparation: Prepare furniture for finishing: Prepare hand crafted or production furniture for finishing this will include sanding, grain brushing, repair, stripping and general surface preparation.
  • Finishing: Finishing Applications: Apply stains, sealers, primers, oils, polishes, varnishes, waxes, lacquers and finishing coats to furniture. Finish furniture by spraying.
  • Finishing: Decorative & Specialist Effects: Create decorative effects or specialist finishes on furniture
  • Preparation: Customer Service: Agree the requirements, scope of the work and the budget with the customer. Set expectations with the customer.
  • Preparation: Assessment: Assess items of furniture for repair in order to produce a condition and options report.
  • Preparation: Requirements: Evaluate and specify restoration requirements. Develop a plan for the restoration work.
  • Preparation: Research: Carry out research to understand the history of furniture and the different periods.
  • Restoration: Repair & Restore: Repair structural components. Replicate and restore components.
  • Basic Finishing: Prepare existing and newly restored surfaces and finish furniture using basic finishing method
  • Finishing: Reporting: Write a report on the work that has been carried out to include sketches and photographs of the process.
  • Finishing: Recommendations: Provide the customer with relevant aftercare and instructions and recommendations for future use and handling.
  • Optional: Decorative Effects: Re- create decorative effects on furniture.
  • Optional: Re-upholstery: Reupholster structural and decorative elements of furniture. Ensure you use appropriate fabrics.
  • Optional: French Polishing: French polish furniture using traditional methods to a glass finish.
  • Machinery, Tools and Equipment: Set up and operate machinery, tools and equipment used to produce furniture. Understand tools and equipment used
  • Components: Make components of furniture to specification within acceptable tolerances. Understand how and where components are used
  • Cutting: Use appropriate equipment to cut materials within acceptable tolerances
  • Veneers and Laminates: Select, prepare and apply veneers to items of furniture
  • Assembly: Assemble components of furniture. Understand the sequence of assembly and why this is important
  • Finishing: Apply stains, sealers, basecoats and finishes to production furniture
  • Measure and Mark Out: Measure and mark out materials to specification
  • Sanding: Sand materials for preparation prior to assembly, post-assembly and de-nibbing. Understand grit sizes and the process of sanding
  • Cramping: Position components and apply cramps to ensure products are positioned securely to specification
  • Fittings: Prepare and assemble components to specification, finishing and checking the assembly conforms to specifications
  • Gluing: Apply adhesives to components. Understand types, methods and processes involved in gluing
  • Jigs and Templates: Use and maintain jigs and templates for furniture production. Jigs are used to ensure repeatability and accuracy in the production of furniture. These can be hand held or mounted on workbenches.
  • Edge Banding: Carry out edge-banding process following standard operating procedures. Edge banding is the process of applying a trim or edge to the piece of furniture to make it neat and aesthetically pleasing.
  • Electrical/Mechanical Fittings: Fit mechanical or electrical components to furniture
  • Rectification/Rework: Carry out rectification or rework. This includes assessing and repairing items
  • Safe Handling and Storage: Pack and store products and components following standard operating procedures. Understand and follow procedures for safe handling of products
  • Prepation: Assessment: Carry out an assessment of the fault. Assess and specify requirements for work to be carried out and agree with customers.
  • Recommendations: Provide customers with relevant aftercare and instructions and recommendations for future use.
  • Sign Off: Report: Complete reports on the work carried out.
  • operational: Upholstery: Repair upholstery faults including fabrics, frames, fillings, stitching, scratches, scuffs, tears, holes, seam issues, discolouration and colour loss, arms, collapsed surfaces and springs.
  • Operational: Furniture: Repair furniture faults including cosmetic, structural, veneers, foil and laminated surfaces.
  • Operational: Beds and mattresses: Repair beds and mattress faults including broken frames, replacing tufts, damaged stitching and mattress settlement.
  • Operational: Flat pack: Repair flat pack furniture faults including cosmetic and structural.
  • Operational: Mechanisms and fittings: Repair/replace mechanism and fittings faults including lifting mechanisms, recliners and electrical components,
  • Operational: Leather repairs: Repair scuffs, scratches, stains, burn marks, water marks and discolouration in leather.
  • Cut Fabrics and Components: Prepare and cut fabric and components used in upholstery.
  • Frame Construction: Construct upholstery frames to specification. Understanding the methods used to construct frames
  • Sewn / Seamed Components: Produce sewn / seamed components by hand and through the use of machinery.
  • Suspensions and Foundations: Select materials for suspensions including springs, pocket springs, sprung units and webbing. Apply these to frames using appropriate modern or traditional methods, tools and equipment.
  • Upholstering: Measure and cut fabric, fit, apply and finish top covers including fluting, pleating and buttoning.
  • Loose Covers: Cut, sew and fit loose covers to specification.
  • Repair: Repair joints and frame ready for re-upholstery and revive and polish show-wood frame.
  • Jigs and Templates: Use and maintain jigs and templates. Jigs are used to ensure repeatability and accuracy in the production of furniture. These can be hand held or mounted on workbenches.
  • Produce Templates: Determine details of templates from specifications, mark out, measure dimensions and cut templates using appropriate tools and equipment.
  • Resolve Faults in Leather: Deal with scuffs, scratches, stains, burn marks, water marks and discolouration in leather.
  • Filling Materials: Select and fix filling materials. Understand different types and fixing methods
  • Fit Mechanical or Electrical Components: Assemble, fit and quality assure components.
  • Cushions and Padded Items: Measure and cut fabric; sew components to produce scatter, box and bolster cushions.
  • Frame Finishes: Finish and polish show-wood frames, apply stains, sealers basecoats and finishes.
  • Trimmings and Finishings: Position and fix trimmings and finishings. This includes castors, valances, borders, skirts, dust covers and feet and legs.
  • Strip Down Furniture: Strip back existing upholstery to frames. Understand when and how to retain original foundation work
  • Essential: Tooling: Select, prepare and maintain wood machining tooling.
  • Essential: Cutting: Prepare, set up and operate cutting wood machinery.
  • Essential: Planning: Prepare, set up and operate planes. This includes surface planer and thicknesser (can be a combined machine) and four sided planer and moulder (for planed all round).
  • Optional: Calibrating: Calibrate measuring equipment, keep tools and equipment clear of debris and dirt and ensure tools are kept sharp.
  • Optional: Jigs and Templates: Use and maintain jigs and templates for furniture production. Jigs are used to ensure repeatability and accuracy in the production of furniture. These can be hand held or mounted on workbenches.
  • Optional: Profiling: Prepare, set up and operate profiling wood machinery. This includes vertical spindle moulder (straight work), four sided planer and moulder, high-speed router, double-end tenoner, wood turning lathe, copying lathe, linear shaper, rotary shaper machines
  • Optional: Boring: Prepare, set up and operate boring wood machinery. This includes single-head machine and multi-head machine.
  • Optional: Sanding: Sand materials for preparation prior to assembly, post-assembly and de-nibbing. Understand grit sizes and the process of sanding. This includes the use of wide belt sander, overhead narrow belt sander, disc sander, bobbin sander, linisher and profile sander.
  • Optional: Edge Banding: Carry out the edge-banding process following standard operating procedures. This includes, edge-banding by hand, colour matching, timber and PVC lippings, calibration and finishing techniques.
  • Optional: Operate Machinery and Equipment: Operate woodworking machinery and equipment to meet company requirements. Prepare tools and equipment including tooling technology and calibration of measuring equipment.
  • Optional: Joints: Prepare, set up and operate wood machinery to produce jointed wood and wood-based products. This includes chisel morticer, chain morticer, slot morticer, dovetailer, vertical spindle moulder, stair router, single-end tenoner, double-end tenoner, round-end tenoner, dowler and router.
  • Optional: Assembly: Assemble components of furniture following standard operating procedures. Understand the sequence of assembly and why this is important.
  • Preparation: Transporting & Handling of Materials: Ensure the safe transportation and handling of installation equipment and materials. The correct type and quantity of installation equipment and materials have to be located and then transported so that they arrive at the location of the installation in good order.
  • Installation: Prepare Location: Prepare location for assembly and placement of furniture. This involves making the assembly and placement area ready for work and preparing the furniture components for assembly.
  • Installation: Measure and Mark Out: Measure and mark out materials to specification.
  • Installation: Power Tools & Hand Tools: Set up and operate tools used to assemble furniture. Understand the tools used within working area and which specific job they are used in.
  • Installation: Assembly: Assemble components of fitted furniture and understand the sequence of assembly and why this is important
  • Installation: Installation: Install furniture on location to specification. This includes scribing, fixing and securing of furniture using correct fixings relating to foundation secured to etc., adaptations to non- standard situations to specification (i.e., pipe box, sockets, gas meter)
  • Post Installation: Re-instate Location: Re-instate a location after assembly and placement of furniture. This involves confirming the end of placement, ensuring all resources are cleared and maintaining customer liaison.
  • Post Installation: Rectification/ rework: Carry out rectification or rework. This includes changing hinges and handles. Identify snags and awareness of where to seek help and guidance.
  • Optional Installation: Gluing: Apply adhesives to components and understand types, methods and processes involved in gluing.
  • Optional Installation: Cut Outs: Complete standard cut-outs in work surfaces for general appliances such as taps, hobs and sinks. This covers using a template, cutting out and finishing the area.
  • Optional Installation: Cramping: Position components and apply cramps to ensure products are positioned securely to specification.
  • Optional Installation: Sanding: Sand wooden work tops, trims, cornices and laminate edgings. Understand grit sizes and the process for sanding.
  • Optional Installation: Veneers & Laminates: Apply edging tape to laminate worktops to specification.
  • Optional Installation: Jigs & Templates: Use and maintain jigs and templates for furniture installation. Jigs for example hinges and templates for example sinks and work tops.
  • Optional Installation: Joints: Cut and join components on site. This could include work top jointing, up-stand, cornices and trims.
  • Optional Installation: Fittings: Prepare and assemble components to specification, finishing and checking the assembly conforms to specifications
  • Optional Installation: Electrical / Mechanical Fittings: First fit mechanical or electrical components to furniture.
  • Optional Installation: Finish composite worktops: Finish work tops to specification following manufacturers’ instructions.

Training schedule

  • You will gain a Level 2 NVQ in furniture making, which will be achieved by on-the-job training and a 10-week block release at Rycotewood College in Oxford
  • By the end of the training period, you should be competent in basic machining and entry-level cabinet making

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • Design and Technology (grade 6)
  • English (grade 6)
  • Maths (grade 6)

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
  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

It would be an advantage if you have an existing interest in woodworking and design.

About this employer

N.E.J. Stevenson Cabinetmakers was formed in 1984 and is one of the countries leading bespoke furnituremakers working in historic buildings and luxury private homes. The company was granted a Royal Warrant in 2003 as Cabinetmakers to Her Majesty the Queen and as Cabinetmakers to the King in 2024.

http://www.nejstevenson.co.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

  • On successful completion of your apprenticeship, and in discussion with the Production Director, you will be offered a role in keeping with your level of ability. This will usually be as an entry-level role, but could be as a cabinetmaker, machinist or polisher
  • As you become more skilled, you can progress to being a Lead craftsman with the possibility of taking on skilled supervisory roles or moving into a specialist skills position such as a CNC operator or draughtsman

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

N E J STEVENSON LTD

Neil Stevenson

info@nejstevenson.co.uk

02476546878

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000033800.

Apply now

Closes on Tuesday 30 June 2026