Apprentice Joiner

Durham County Council

Meadowfield (DH7 8XL)

Closes in 14 days (Sunday 2 August 2026)

Posted on 17 July 2026

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Summary

As an Apprentice (Joiner) you will develop the skills and competencies to assist in the provision of a building repairs and construction service provided on behalf of the Strategic Facilities Management, Repairs and Maintenance Service. 

Wage

£16,224 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Carpentry and joinery (level 2)
Hours
The normal working hours are 39 hours per week (2 hours per week contributing to B&FM’s stand down scheme).

39 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

3 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

  • Assist in the supporting and advising of the Construction and Repairs and Maintenance Managers and other staff regarding joinery installation and maintenance issues
  • Develop the post holder’s understanding of the service to comply with the performance standards set for the Maintenance and Construction Service
  • Develop the post holder to assist in the promotion and development of working practices and procedures to improve the health and safety culture within the Strategic Facilities Management, Repairs Maintenance Service

Where you'll work

Durham County Council Meadowfield Depot
St Johns Road Autorepairuk
Meadowfield
DH7 8XL

Training

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

Training provider

NEW COLLEGE DURHAM

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

As part of your apprenticeship, you will study towards a Level 2 qualification in Carpentry and Joinery, progressing onto a relevant Level 3 with New College Durham.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 2 or above)
  • Maths (grade 2 or above)

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working

Other requirements

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS disclosure.

About this employer

Durham County Council is the largest council in the North East, we employ over 16,000 people and have a budget of around £1.3 billion which helps us provide services for more than 513,000 people. We are a forward-looking council and recognise that we need passionate people who share our enthusiasm to deliver fantastic services to the people of County Durham.

http://www.durham.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Durham County Council is a great place to begin your career, but don’t just take our word for it. Hear directly from our apprentices about their experiences through Apprenticeships at Durham County Council, and discover how our Chief Executive, John Hewitt, started his own career journey through an apprenticeship.

Disability Confident

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

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

There is no guarantee of a job role on completion of the apprenticeship but if working at the required level opportunities will become available for progression.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Durham County Council

Matthew Jackson

matthew.jackson@durham.gov.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000043418.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Sunday 2 August 2026)

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