Woodmill Operator Apprentice
LEBUS UPHOLSTERY LIMITED
Lincolnshire, Scunthorpe
Closes in 13 days (Friday 15 August 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 29 July 2025
Contents
Summary
We are looking for a Woodmill Operator Apprentice in the wood mill to join our fast-paced manufacturing team at Lebus Upholstery on a permanent basis. A Woodmill Operator Apprentice is a role to start building a rewarding career and making yourself at Lebus
- Wage
-
£15,311.40 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
· 20% discount on sofas · Employee-owned trust bonus paid annually; tax free after 1 year service · Employee monthly prize draw, prizes up to £250, 10 winners per month (High street Vouchers)
- Training course
- Furniture making operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Thursday 06.15 – 15.00
Friday 06.15 – 13.35
39 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 1 September 2025
- Duration
-
1 year 6 months
- Positions available
-
3
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
All Lebus sofa frames are handmade at our manufacturing site to ensure the highest standards, these frames will then pass through the factory until the product is a complete. Our Woodmill Operator Apprentice play an integral part in shaping and manipulating the timber into the required pieces to assemble the frame. A high attention to detail is essential as is the passion to learn how to use machinery.
This role really suits you if you have an interest in working with wood and enjoy working in a fast paced environment. You should be comfortable working with your hands, multiple materials and be capable of a lot of manual handling and heavy lifting. You will take pride in your work, solving problems and maintain good quality.
A high attention to detail is essential as well as being comfortable using hand and air tools.
In the role we will give you the training you need.
Operate machinery in the wood mill
· Shape and manipulate timber into required pieces to assemble frames
· Maintain a clean and safe working environment by adhering to health and safety guidelines.
· Work efficiency to meet production targets.
· Collaborate with the team to ensure smooth workflow and the timely completion for further production stages.
· It is important that you carry out routine checks on your machinery, ensuring that they are in good condition and report any malfunctions.
· You will participate in training to enhance skills
· Maintain a high level of attention to detail and accuracy to ensure the longevity and quality of a finished product.
· Support continuous improvement initiatives by suggesting ideas for process efficiency or quality enhancements.
Where you'll work
You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.
This apprenticeship is available in these locations:
- Queensway Industrial Estate, Dunlop Way, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, DN16 3RN
- Dunlop Way, Queensway Industrial Estate, Scunthorpe, DN16 3RN
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
DN COLLEGES GROUP
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
Training will be at North Lindsey College where you will access a wide range of facilities on offer.
Block release/ Day release
You will undertake the Level 2 Furniture making operative standard.
Furniture making operative / Skills England
You will undertake Functional Skills for English and/or Maths if needed
You will undertake both on and off-the-job training by a team of industry qualified professionals to give you the best skills, knowledge and experience that will help you become a Furniture Maker of the future!
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
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
You must be able to travel to and from work and college. Apprentices are paid for their normal working hours and training that's part of their apprenticeship (usually one day per week). The Apprenticeship National Minimum Wage guide is updated every April (ANMW): https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates
About this employer
OVER 150 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE! Lebus Upholstery, which was established in 1840, has become one of the largest furniture manufacturers of UK produced upholstery, based in North Lincolnshire. We have a modern purpose-built 250,000 square feet factory supplying a wide range of furniture retailers across the UK and Ireland. The present site is over 5.5 acres and is probably the largest one-site operation of its kind in the country. A dedicated workforce, coupled with a strong forward thinking management team, ensures that all Lebus products are designed and manufactured to the highest possible standards. Lebus Upholstery is renowned in the industry for its quality of workmanship and design. Through the 1950s and 1960s, Lebus became one of the most famous names in furniture in the UK and was reputed to be the biggest operation in Europe. The company was part of the biggest upholstery manufacturing company in the industry at that time - the Christie-Tyler Group. Now, Lebus Upholstery Limited has one of the most modern and efficient purpose-built manufacturing units in the UK. Our factory is 250,000 sq ft, as well as the space in the mezzanine area, and is currently busy producing a record order book. Lebus Upholstery are regarded as the market leaders in the quality commercial upholstered furniture market. In our custom built 250,000 square feet factory, probably the largest one site operation of its kind in the country a dedicated workforce and a strong leadership team devote all their talents and experience to the design and construction of Lebus models - many of which are exclusive. Lebus produces quality hardwood frames from seasoned timbers with all joints glued and pinned for triple strength and rigidity. We create and develop all our own exclusive designs, constantly monitoring and often anticipating the latest trends in furnishing designs and fabrics. Heavy investment in the latest computer technology improves both quality and efficiency, and since all the work is carried out under our own roof, quality control is easier and more rigorous, helping to ensure consistently high standards of design and craftsmanship in all Lebus products
https://www.lebus.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
· Employee Assistance Programme – offering retailer discounts, bike to work scheme, appliance scheme and 24/7 counselling services · Onsite Canteen – free breakfast and lunch until apprenticeship completion.
After this apprenticeship
Successful completion of the apprenticeship could lead to a higher-level apprenticeship or full-time employment for the right candidate.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
DN COLLEGES GROUP
Sarah.Barnard@northlindsey.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000334485.
Apply now
Closes in 13 days (Friday 15 August 2025 at 11:59pm)
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