Specification

The essential knowledge and skills areas are:

Measure and Mark Out – materials to specification within the acceptable tolerances following standard operating procedures

Tooling – Select, prepare and maintain wood machining tooling

Cutting – Prepare, set-up and operating woodworking machinery.

Planing – Prepare, set up and operate planes. This includes surface planer and thicknesser and four sided planer and moulder (for planed all round)

As part of the programme there are optional units in the following areas:

• Calibrating
• Jigs & Templates
• Profiling
• Boring
• Sanding
• Edge banding
• Joints
• Finishing &
• Assembly

The final selection of units will depend on the processes being used in your work place setting.

That will also influence the range and types of materials you will be working on.  It could include softwoods, hardwoods, composite panel products such as medium density fibreboard or particle board, engineered panel products or plywood.  Facing materials such as veneer or laminate could feature.

In some industries plastics and free cutting metals such as aluminium are also machined using woodworking machinery.

You must:

• be 16 or over
• not already be in full-time education
• live in England to qualify for Didac funded apprenticeships

You can start an apprenticeship whether you’re starting your career, want a change or you’re upskilling in your current job. You can have a previous qualification like a degree and still start an apprenticeship.

As an apprentice you’ll:

• learn and train for a specific job
• get paid and receive holiday leave
• get hands-on experience in a real job
• be given the opportunity to improve your maths and English skills
• study for at least 20% of your working hours off-the-job
• complete assessments during and at the end of your apprenticeship
• be on a career path with lots of future potential