Apprentice Furniture Making Operative - REF 14899
G M FITTED FURNITURE LTD
Accrington (BB5 5DH)
Closes on Tuesday 21 April 2026
Posted on 21 January 2026
Contents
Summary
GM Fitted Furniture in Accrington are recruiting for an Apprentice Furniture Making Operative. The successful candidate will complete a level 2 Furniture Making Operative Apprenticeship over the duration of 21 months.
- Wage
-
£15,704 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, 30 mins lunch, 1 x 15 minute break,
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 28 April 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 9 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
- Loading / Unloading full sheets of MFC board to be cut down to size on the panel saw
- Operate edgebander to feed timber through and apply PVC edge tape on laminated chipboard components
- Taking delivery of the sheets every morning to work with working alongside the machinist to maintain the working environment
- Responsible for pre-assembled furniture or units for the fitters or installers, to collect the following day
- Collect products that have been pre-cut and working from the job sheet
- Drill the cabinets together and make chests using hand and power tools
- Learn to use routing machines, drilling hinge holes
- Shadowing on the CNC router, learning how to load components, load and amend programmes, change tooling and read / use CAD drawings and programmes
Where you'll work
25 Whalley Road
Altham West
Accrington
BB5 5DH
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 CIC
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
- Functional Skills
- Furniture Making Operative Level 2
- Work-Based Learning
Requirements
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Keen & Willing to Learn
- Punctual
- Reliable
- Hardworking
- Good Practical Skills
About this employer
GM Fitted Furniture Limited began in 1978 selling bedrooms that were designed, built and installed by a small creative and skilled team. Some forty years later, we still have a small creative team and we are always busy re-inventing our product range. Using the latest computer assisted drawing (CAD) platform, our designers transform your ideas into accurate plans and visual Illustrations. Your consultation, site survey and plan preparation are free services provided by GM and we pride ourselves in our commitment to your projects. You will not experience a pressure sales pitch, just a friendly team eager to help.
After this apprenticeship
Progression onto Full-Time Employment
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
NORTH LANCS. TRAINING GROUP CIC
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000009902.
Apply now
Closes on Tuesday 21 April 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.