Apprentice Bench Joiner

CASTLE HOWARD ESTATE LIMITED

York (YO60 7DA)

Closes in 15 days (Friday 31 July 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 15 July 2026

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Summary

Gain hands-on experience as an Apprentice Bench Joiner at the historic Castle Howard Estate. Learn traditional and modern woodworking skills, help maintain and restore estate properties, and work alongside experienced craftspeople. A fantastic opportunity to start a career in a skilled trade and help preserve historic structures.

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)

31 days holiday (including Bank Holidays)
Company pension plan
Death in service (permanent staff only)

Training course
Carpentry and joinery (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday. Start: 7:30am. Finish: 4:00pm. 30-minute unpaid lunch break. Some flexibility may be required to meet business needs.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 31 August 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

Are you interested in learning a skilled trade while working in one of Britain's most iconic historic estates?

Castle Howard is seeking an enthusiastic Apprentice Bench Joiner to join its skilled team. This is an exciting opportunity to develop practical woodworking and joinery skills while helping to maintain, repair and preserve a wide range of historic buildings and estate properties. Castle Howard is a 300-year-old family home, a diverse working rural estate and an award-winning visitor attraction welcoming over 250,000 visitors each year.

Working alongside experienced joiners, you will gain hands-on experience in traditional and modern bench joinery techniques, producing and restoring timber products to a high standard. You'll learn valuable skills in manufacturing, repairing and maintaining wooden structures while contributing to the conservation of a unique heritage environment.

As part of your apprenticeship, you will:

  • Learn traditional and modern bench joinery techniques.
  • Manufacture, repair and restore a variety of timber products.
  • Measuring, cutting, shaping and assembling timber components.
  • Assist with the maintenance and preservation of historic buildings and estate properties.
  • Use a range of hand and power tools safely and effectively.
  • Read and interpret drawings and specifications.
  • Work alongside experienced craftspeople to develop your practical skills and knowledge.
  • Maintain a safe, clean and organised work environment.
  • Support the wider estate team as required.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys practical work, has an eye for detail and wants to build a career in a skilled trade.

Where you'll work

Estate Office
Castle Howard
York
YO60 7DA

Training

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

Training provider

TEC PARTNERSHIP

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

Training will be delivered through day release and workplace learning.

You will receive support and guidance from experienced joiners and mentors throughout your apprenticeship. 

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths & English (grade 4)

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
  • Team working
  • Willing to learn
  • Practical Skills
  • Reliable and punctual
  • Positive Attitude
  • Interest in woodworking
  • Interest in heritage crafts
  • Time Management
  • Commitment to quality work

Other requirements

 

This is a physically active role involving manual handling and standing for extended periods.

You will be working within a busy workshop and estate environment.

Due to the rural location of Castle Howard, access to reliable transport is desirable. A driving licence and access to a vehicle would be advantageous.

About this employer

Castle Howard is a diverse rural estate and award-winning visitor attraction near York, welcoming more than 250,000 visitors each year. Built over 300 years ago, it remains a family home and features historic buildings, gardens, retail outlets, cafés, farming, forestry and a range of estate businesses. 

As an Apprentice Bench Joiner, you will join a skilled and supportive team, helping to maintain and preserve historic buildings and estate assets while developing valuable woodworking and joinery skills.

https://www.castlehoward.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

  • Free entry into the House and Gardens
  • 20% discount in our retail shops and catering outlets
  • Access to an Employee Assistance Programme
  • Passes to other attractions
  • Uniform and tools provided
  • Social events throughout the year

After this apprenticeship

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

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, and subject to achieving the required college standards and maintaining a good standard of performance, quality of work, attendance and conduct, there may be the opportunity to progress into a full-time, permanent Bench Joiner position within Castle Howard.

A successful apprenticeship could provide the foundation for a long-term career within the estate's maintenance and heritage conservation teams.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

TEC PARTNERSHIP

myapprenticeship@scarboroughtec.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000039975.

Apply now

Closes in 15 days (Friday 31 July 2026 at 11:59pm)