Apprentice Manufacturing Operative (Garden Buildings and Animal Housing)
GARDEN & ANIMAL STRUCTURES LTD
Newcastle Under Lyme (ST5 7RH)
Closes on Friday 31 July 2026
Posted on 18 June 2026
Contents
Summary
Garden & Animal Structures Ltd is looking for an Apprentice Manufacturing Operative to join our team. You will gain hands-on experience making and assembling garden and animal housing products, using hand and power tools, supporting installations and helping to keep the workshop running efficiently.
- Wage
-
£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday- Friday 8am- 4pm (when in the workshop)
Flexibility is required for start and finish times, with the potential for some overnight stays when installing.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
1 year
- 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
- Assemble pre-cut timber components using nail guns and other hand and power tools (following training)
- Cut and fit polystyrene insulation boards into timber frameworks
- Attach PVC sheeting and other cladding materials to frames
- Cut and prepare PVC components using workshop machinery, including routers (following training)
- Measure and cut roofing felt and other finishing materials to size
- Assist with the installation and construction of animal housing and garden structures on customer sites
- Use a range of battery-powered and hand tools safely and effectively, including drills, hammers, and hand saws
- Load and unload vehicles with tools, materials, and finished products
- Keep van stock, tools, and equipment organised, maintained, and batteries charged
- Maintain a clean, safe, and organised workshop by sweeping, emptying bins, and tidying work areas
- Work as part of the team to meet production schedules while following health and safety procedures
Where you'll work
57 58 Winpenny Rd
Newcastle Under Lyme
ST5 7RH
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
STOKE ON TRENT COLLEGE
Training course
Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, and other relevant guidelines. Identifying risks within their processes and support/carry out countermeasure activities to improve safe working. Manage tooling, equipment and materials daily in-line with supplier standards e.g. COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
- Comply with environmental procedures and systems and contribute to the achievement of specific standards e.g. ISO 14001 or other relevant environmental standards and use the 4R’s (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Recover) where possible
- Demonstrate their ability to carry out their role effectively, efficiently and flexibly maintaining lean manufacturing principles to meet customer’s demands e.g. JIT
- Demonstrate their skill and knowledge following SOPs and building their versatility across a number of processes and process areas. Select and use appropriate tools, equipment and materials to carry out the manufacturing operation
- Demonstrate appropriate process documentation control. Accurately completing check sheets, monitoring process and equipment data efficiently and legibly using the correct terminology required to meet the quality standard e.g. ISO 9002
- Demonstrate their ability to identify and resolve problems within the lean manufacturing environment using effective problem solving tools and techniques. Manage problems that may occur during the manufacturing process within the limits of their responsibility and escalate as appropriate
- Generate ideas and contribute to process improvement activities individually or as part of a team through fact finding and analysis to improve the safety, environment, quality, cost or production process. Identifying and eliminating the 7 wastes (defects, over production, transportation, waiting, inventory, motion and processing)
- Demonstrate communication skills which include oral, written, electronic (PC), information boards or visual displays to effectively share information
- Maintains and monitors the work site efficiently and effectively at all times using the elements of sifting, sorting, sweeping, spick & span (5’s) within the lean manufacturing environment
- Check components for damage and that they are in a usable condition
- Correctly position, align and secure the components
- Secure the components in position using the specified fastening device/method
- Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions/Standard operating procedures production/assembly specifications in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the production/assembly activity
- Produce components which comply with the specification and quality requirements
- Carryout quality checks on component parts and completed assemblies and deal with quality concerns and defects in line with their responsibility
- Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, inspection/quality procedures and product specifications in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the inspection/quality assurance activity
- Collect production samples at the required frequency in accordance with inspection specification and operating procedures
- Carryout inspection and testing activities using the specified methods and equipment
- Prepare, Handle, transfer and store samples safely and correctly in accordance with quality control procedures
- Accurately interpret the data/results gained from the inspection and testing procedures being used
- Record and report inspection findings to relevant person
- Safely move materials to the correct location using the relevant equipment
- Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, specification details and specific transfer/handling procedures in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the logistic/material handling activity
- Move materials using the appropriate procedures, ensuring the materials are correct, safely loaded and secure.
- Check materials selected to be moved are in line with job requirements
- Carryout quality checks on materials that are to be moved and deal with quality concerns and damage in line with their responsibility
- Return equipment to its correct location on completion of the activities and leave it in a safe and usable condition
- Perform one processing/finishing operation method e.g. hand processing, manually operated machine processing, fully automated machine processing, combined processing
- Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, processing/finishing procedures and equipment operating procedures in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the processing/finishing activity
- Perform the processing/finishing operation according to instructions and safe operating procedures
- Monitor and control the processing/finishing operation
- Produce processed/finished products which comply with processing specification
Training schedule
Training will be delivered in the workplace by a dedicated tutor from Stoke on Trent College.
You will also undertake the following alongside the apprenticeship standard:
- Level 2 Diploma in Manufacturing (knowledge and skills)
- Functional Skills in maths and English (if required)
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
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
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Practical skills
- Reliable
Other requirements
- You must be comfortable working in close proximity of animals
About this employer
We take pride in our workmanship, and nothing other than high standards will leave our workshop. We make our hand-built dog kennels and garden buildings in the UK, and we provide a range of wooden products. In addition to our standard products, we also offer a bespoke service. Garden and Animal Structures is a friendly, family run business based in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, putting your needs at the heart of what we do. Be rest assured that our passion for all things wooden will shine through – whether it be a cosy home for your pet or a sturdy store for your logs.
We strive to provide quality and affordable products, along with excellent customer service. We can make our garden buildings to your specifications if required. Please get in touch to discuss your requirements. We have been awarded the Pet Product & Services award for Best UK Wooden Animal Housing Manufacturer for two years in a row!
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- Possible opportunity for permanent employment on completion of the apprenticeship
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
STOKE ON TRENT COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000038011.
Apply now
Closes on Friday 31 July 2026