Site Joinery Apprentice (Darlington Borough Council)
darlington borough council
Darlington (DL1 4QB)
Closes in 16 days (Sunday 27 September 2026)
Posted on 11 September 2026
Contents
Summary
Gained practical experience in site carpentry, including installing doors, floors, roofs and timber structures. Developed skills in interpreting drawings, using tools safely, and working to construction standards while supporting council building and maintenance projects.
- Wage
-
£16,577 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Wage is dependant on age: £16,577.00 - £25,619.00 pa (% of Craft 2)
- Training course
- Carpentry and joinery (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday- Friday
8am- 4pm
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 5 October 2026
- Duration
-
2 years 2 months
- 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
Your weekly tasks could include, but are not restricted to:
- Follow health, safety and environmental procedures on site
- Use and maintain hand and power tools safely
- Interpret technical drawings and work instructions
- Measure, mark out and cut timber materials
- Construct and install timber wall and floor structures
- Fit roof components, including trusses and rafters
- Install doors, door frames and ironmongery
- Fit windows, staircases and internal partitions
- Lay timber floors and flooring systems
- Install skirting boards, architraves and other finishing joinery
- Repair and maintain existing timber structures
- Work alongside qualified tradespeople on live construction projects
- Transport, store and select construction materials
- Carry out quality checks to ensure work meets specifications
- Maintain a clean, organised and safe working environment
- Communicate effectively with supervisors, colleagues and customers
- Complete apprenticeship portfolio evidence and workplace assessments
- Support refurbishment and maintenance projects across council properties
Where you'll work
16 Allington Way
Darlington
DL1 4QB
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
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 (load bearing studwork), 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.
Training schedule
You will be completing the Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery (Site Carpenter) Apprenticeship Standard with Darlington Borough Council Learning & Skills.
The Site Carpentry Apprenticeship is designed to provide learners with the practical skills, knowledge and behaviours required to work safely and effectively within the construction industry. The programme combines workplace learning with off-the-job training, covering core carpentry and joinery techniques, construction methods, and industry best practice.
Throughout the apprenticeship, you will be supported by experienced tutors and industry professionals who have extensive knowledge of the construction sector. They will help you develop the skills needed to undertake a wide range of site carpentry activities, including installing structural timber components, fitting doors and staircases, constructing roof structures, and carrying out maintenance and repair work to a high professional standard.
More training information
You will be working alongside experienced colleagues and upon successful completion of your apprenticeship, will obtain:
Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery (Site Joinery) Apprenticeship Standard
Training will take place weekly at our training centre (DL1 4QZ). Here you will learn the theory and practical elements of the course, gaining the knowledge and developing skills to complete the apprenticeship. While here you will develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours to ensure these exceed the minimum requirements for the Carpentry and Joinery (Site Joinery) L2 Apprenticeship Standard.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4+/ C+)
- maths (grade 4+/ C+)
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
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
You will be required to attend our training centre in Darlington (DL1 4QZ) and you will need to make your own way there for drop in training sessions, if required.
Travel to and from the employer, based at 20 Allington Way, Darlington DL1 4DY.
About this employer
Darlington Borough Council is a local authority in the NE East of England that serves the people of the Darlington Borough. Your reward for working at the Council goes beyond the salary you receive. In addition to pay, we are committed to offering a wide range of benefits. Such as: 31 days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays, with option to purchase Additional Annual Leave (pro rata), Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme with option to make Additional Voluntary Contributions, Flexi-time scheme Enhanced Maternity/Paternity and Adoption Leave payments, Green Car leasing scheme, Cycle to Work scheme in partnership with Halfords, Access to free Physiotherapy sessions, Access to free and confidential counselling, Reduced cost membership to the Council’s leisure centre Fit for Life Package , Season ticket car parking permits or subsidised Town Centre parking permits subject to conditions, Access to Childcare Vouchers scheme subject to conditions, Access to a wide range of training Discounted Arriva Bus Travel Pass.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Successful completion could lead to Craft Carpentry and Joinery (Site Joinery) Level 3.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
DARLINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000040843.
Apply now
Closes in 16 days (Sunday 27 September 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.