Apprentice Furniture Finisher

MATTHEW MARSDEN FURNITURE LTD

CHORLEY (PR7 5SJ)

Closes on Monday 9 November 2026

Posted on 9 September 2026

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Summary

Matthew Marsden Furniture in Eccleston, Chorley are recruiting for an Apprentice Furniture Finisher. The successful candidate will work towards completing a Level 2 Furniture Finisher apprenticeship over the duration of 15 months. This is a well established company that has developed many apprentices over the years.

• 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)

• Training course: Furniture finisher (level 2)
• Hours: Monday to Friday 7:30am - 4pm / 30 mins paid lunch break / 10 mins paid morning break.

  40 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 23 November 2026

• Duration:

  1 year 3 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

• A typical day for a Furniture Sprayer/Finisher/Painter Apprentice would involve working alongside our experienced team and learning all aspects of preparing and finishing bespoke furniture.
• Daily tasks may include sanding and preparing furniture, mixing paints and finishes, learning spray-painting techniques, cleaning and maintaining equipment, carrying out quality checks, and keeping the work area clean and safe.
• The apprentice will gradually take on more responsibility as their skills and confidence develop. As we are a busy workshop, they may also be asked to help in other areas when required, giving them the opportunity to learn different trades and understand the full furniture manufacturing process.

Where you'll work

5-7 LAWRENCE LANE
ECCLESTON
CHORLEY
PR7 5SJ

Training

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

Training provider

NORTH LANCS. TRAINING GROUP C.I.C.

Training course

Furniture finisher (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Agree scope of work and timescales with customers and plan activity.
• Prepare work area and maintain before, during and after tasks.
• Store materials, tools, and equipment.
• Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work.
• Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), quality assurance requirements and monitoring procedures.
• Select and check tools, equipment and machinery.
• Set up, operate and monitor machinery, hand and power tools and equipment use to prepare furniture for finishing.
• Follow environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, procedures and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
• Inspect, sand, strip and repair surfaces for finishing and report issues.
• Apply colour matching and mixing techniques including checking compatibility and recording materials and ratios.
• Identify, select and prepare materials, tools and equipment to finish furniture by hand.
• Apply and adjust hand finishing techniques to create decorative effects or specialist finishes to furniture.
• Apply techniques to revive and protect existing finish.
• Record information - paper based or electronic.
• Identify and resolve common faults and issues in furniture finishing.
• Escalate issues or concerns.
• Apply preventative maintenance techniques to machinery, tools and equipment. For example checking, cleaning and lubricating.
• Apply basic continuous improvement techniques for example, 5 Why's, 5S, KAIZEN.
• Apply team working principles.
• Follow equity, diversity and inclusion legislation and guidance.
• Communicate with others verbally for example, internal and external customers, colleagues, and managers.
• Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security.
• Carry out and record learning and development activities.
• Identify, select and prepare materials, tools and equipment to spray finish furniture.
• Apply and adjust spray techniques to finish furniture.
• Agree scope of work and timescales with customers and plan activity.
• Prepare work area and maintain before, during and after tasks.
• Store materials, tools, and equipment.
• Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work.
• Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), quality assurance requirements and monitoring procedures.
• Select and check tools, equipment and machinery.
• Set up, operate and monitor machinery, hand and power tools and equipment use to prepare furniture for finishing.
• Follow environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, procedures and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
• Inspect, sand, strip and repair surfaces for finishing and report issues.
• Apply colour matching and mixing techniques including checking compatibility and recording materials and ratios.
• Identify, select and prepare materials, tools and equipment to finish furniture by hand.
• Apply and adjust hand finishing techniques to create decorative effects or specialist finishes to furniture.
• Apply techniques to revive and protect existing finish.
• Record information - paper based or electronic.
• Identify and resolve common faults and issues in furniture finishing.
• Escalate issues or concerns.
• Apply preventative maintenance techniques to machinery, tools and equipment. For example checking, cleaning and lubricating.
• Apply basic continuous improvement techniques for example, 5 Why's, 5S, KAIZEN.
• Apply team working principles.
• Follow equity, diversity and inclusion legislation and guidance.
• Communicate with others verbally for example, internal and external customers, colleagues, and managers.
• Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security.
• Carry out and record learning and development activities.
• Identify, select and prepare materials, tools and equipment to spray finish furniture.
• Apply and adjust spray techniques to finish furniture.

Training schedule

• Level 2 Furniture Finisher
• Work-based learning with expert tutor sessions
• Functional skills 

Requirements

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Attention to detail
• Team working
• Initiative
• Practical skills

About this employer

Craftsmanship is most often associated with hand-making and traditional techniques. But it’s also about dedicating time and effort to a particular skill.

Our company is built on that ethos. Every member of the team is committed to refining and practising their skills over the course of their career. As a result, the Matthew Marsden team comprises designers and cabinet makers who are craftspeople in the truest sense of the word. They combine invaluable experience with reassuring expertise.

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

Progression onto full-time employment. Potential opportunity for further qualifications in the industry.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

NORTH LANCS. TRAINING GROUP C.I.C.

Recruitment

recruitment@nltg.co.uk

01254 395355

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000052616.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 9 November 2026

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.