Apprentice Carpenter & Joiner

MacIntyre Carpentry & Joinery

LEISTON (IP16 4LF)

Closes on Monday 31 August 2026

Posted on 8 July 2026

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Summary

Start your career in bespoke timber joinery and carpentry. Join a small, respected Leiston-based Suffolk business making handmade Accoya and oak windows, doors and staircases. Learn a real trade hands-on, with day release to college.

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)

Pay is reviewed as the apprentice’s skills develop, with any increases at the employer’s discretion.

Training course
Carpentry and joinery (level 2)
Hours
40 Hours per week - Monday - Friday 7.30am - 4.30pm with two 30 minute breaks at 10.00am and 1.00pm.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 14 September 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

As our apprentice you will work alongside the owner and a qualified joiner, learning both bench joinery in the workshop and carpentry and fitting work on site. Day to day you will help to:

  • Measure, mark out and prepare timber
  • Cut basic and advanced joints
  • Assemble doors, frames, units and staircase components
  • Fit ironmongery such as locks, hinges and handles
  • Carry out on-site carpentry and fitting
  • Keep the workshop, tools and machinery clean and safe

Where you'll work

25 GARRETT CRESCENT
LEISTON
IP16 4LF

Training

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

Training provider

SUFFOLK NEW COLLEGE

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

  • Carpentry and Joinery Standard
  • English and Maths (if required) Level 2

More training information

You will spend one day a week at Suffolk New College working towards your Carpentry & Joinery Level 2 qualification, and the rest of the week learning on the job with us. All tools and equipment are provided.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English or Equivalent (grade A-C or 9-4)
  • Maths or Equivalent (grade A-C or 9-4)

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
  • Customer care skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Number skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Enjoys working with hands
  • Reliable
  • Timekeeping
  • Punctual
  • Keen to learn
  • Pride in work
  • Practical
  • Willing to learn
  • Good work ethic

Other requirements

You must be able to get to Leiston each morning. We operate out of Leiston and can take you to the workshop from there.

About this employer

MacIntyre Carpentry & Joinery is a small bespoke joinery business based in Leiston on the Suffolk Heritage Coast. We hand-make timber windows, doors, gates, staircases and furniture in Accoya and oak, mostly manufactured in our workshop, and we also carry out a good deal of on-site carpentry — bridging the gap between joinery and carpentry — often on period and listed buildings.

After this apprenticeship

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

On completing the Level 2 apprenticeship you could progress to a Level 3 apprenticeship and on to a permanent, skilled position as a qualified carpenter and joiner. For the right person there is a genuine long-term career here, learning the full craft of bespoke timber joinery.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SUFFOLK NEW COLLEGE

Catherine Townsend

apprenticeshipapplication@suffolk.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000041262.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 31 August 2026