Furniture Making Operative

Course Overview

This occupation is found in the furniture, furnishings and interiors manufacturing industry, in companies ranging from small, independent shops that produce custom furniture, to factories that mass produce pieces of furniture.

Furniture Making Operatives manufacture furniture for domestic, office and commercial settings and may make mass-produced products or individually designed furniture. They may manufacture the various components needed to produce fitted kitchens, bathrooms or bedrooms. They assemble, rectify, rework and repair furniture and understand finishing techniques, working with a range of machinery, tools, and equipment. The role includes measuring, preparing and marking out materials and setting up and operating machinery. It may also include the use of computer numerically controlled (CNC) machinery and other technology involved in manufacturing furniture.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to manufacture and assemble, furniture and furniture components; it may also include packing and storing finished furniture. Furniture Making Operatives also perform first line maintenance, contribute to continuous improvement activities, and ensure resources are used efficiently by recycling and reusing resources where possible, to minimise waste. They read and interpret instructions, completing documentation, and clean-up work areas as part of the role.

Depending on the size of the organisation, furniture making operatives may be required to work on their own, or as part of a wider team. They will interact with a range of colleagues, such as other furniture making operatives, designers, production or manufacturing managers, quality technicians, production leaders and product developers.

The occupation can be physically demanding, involving the lifting of components, and standing for long periods of time. Furniture Making Operatives often work shift systems and may work overtime.

Course Duration

Up to 21 months (ie a practical training period of up to 18 months, followed by an End Point Assessment (EPA) period of up to 3 months).

Entry Requirements

You will have to take a Skills Scan to ensure your current level of maths and English is at the required level.

Assessment

• Interview
• Observation with Questions

Progression

After completing the Level 2 Apprenticeship, you can progress onto one of the Level 3 Furniture Apprenticeships depending on your role:

Advanced Furniture CNC Technician
Bespoke Furniture Maker
Fitted Furniture Design Technician