Carpenter/Joiner
What is the work like?
Carpenters and joiners make and install the wooden fixtures and fittings found in domestic and commercial construction projects. These can include floorboards, kitchen and bathroom units, window frames and doors, roof trusses and wall partitions.
As a carpenter or joiner your work could fall into one or more of the following areas:
- formwork – building temporary shuttering to support setting concrete, for example on motorway bridge supports or building foundations
- machining – cutting and shaping timber for floorboards, skirting boards and window frames (see the Wood Machinist profile)
- bench joinery – making and assembling doors, window frames, staircases and fitted furniture
- first fixing (site work) – fitting the wooden structures of a building, such as floor and roof joists, roof timbers, staircases, partition walls, and door and window frames
- second fixing (site work) – installing skirting boards, door surrounds, doors, cupboards and shelving, as well as door handles and locks
- shopfitting – making and fitting interiors for shops, hotels, banks, offices and public buildings (see the Shopfitter profile).
Your craft skills may extend across the whole range, or you could specialise in just one or two.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You do not need any formal qualifications to become a carpenter or joiner, but employers tend to want people with some on-site experience. If you have not worked in construction before, then you could work as a joiner's mate or labourer to gain site experience. Once working, your employer may be willing to offer you training in carpentry and joinery.
You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. To be eligible, you may need some GCSEs in subjects such as maths, English and design and technology, or vocational qualifications such as Edexcel Introductory Certificate or Diploma in Construction, which contains joinery options. For more information on Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
As an alternative, you could take a college course in carpentry and joinery. This could teach you some of the skills needed for the job but employers may still want to some site experience.
College courses include:
- Edexcel (BTEC) First Diploma in Construction (carpentry options)
- City & Guilds Basic Construction Skills award: Carpentry and Joinery (6217)
- Foundation/Intermediate/Advanced Construction Award (Wood Occupations).
For more details about courses, check with ConstructionSkills and your local college.
ConstructionSkills also has general information on building careers and qualifications. The construction trades are also being promoted as a career choice for women through the Know Your Place campaign.
What further training and development can I do?
Once working as a carpenter or joiner, you would take on-the-job training leading to NVQ qualifications, such as Wood Occupations levels 1 to 3. This award contains several options, which include:
- Bench Work – marking, setting out and producing joinery products
- Site Work – installing first and second fixings and structural components
- Shopfitting – manufacturing and installing internal and external frames, shop fronts, fixtures and finishings
- Timber Frame Erection – putting up timber frame walls, laying floors and fixing roof structures
- Wheelwrighting – marking out, making and assembling carriage joinery products.
The Institute of Carpenters (IOC) also offers various craft awards for carpenters and joiners looking to improve their range of skills and qualifications. For details contact the IOC.
Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)
Many building contractors now insist that you have a CSCS card to work on their sites. The card is proof of your skills and competence. To get your card you must:
- pass a health and safety assessment
- have an NVQ or equivalent qualification.
If you are working without qualifications, you may be able to use On-Site Assessment and Training (OSAT) or Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) to get your NVQ and card. Contact CSCS or SkillsDirect for further details.
Where can I go for more information?
c/o The Building Crafts CollegeKennard Road
Stratford
London
E15 1AH
King's Lynn
Norfolk
PE31 6RH
Tel: 01485 577577
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser at learndirect Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Starting salaries are between £13,500 and £16,000.
- Qualified joiners can earn between £17,000 and £23,000 a year.
- Experienced joiners can earn up to £28,000.
Overtime and shift allowances will supplement income. Self-employed carpenters and joiners negotiate their own rates.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would work between 39 and 45 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Overtime at weekends or evenings may be available.
Your working conditions will depend on which job you do. Site work and formwork involves working outdoors in all weathers, climbing ladders and working on scaffolding or roofs. As a bench joiner or shopfitter, you would work indoors where conditions could be dusty. You would use protective equipment on all jobs, including safety helmets, boots and ear defenders.
You would normally travel between sites and you may have to work away from home at times on some contracts.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
You would need:
- good practical skills
- a methodical approach to work
- the ability to pay attention to detail
- the ability to follow technical drawings and plans
- good numerical skills for measuring and working out angles
- a reasonable level of fitness
- the ability to work as part of a team and alone
- an awareness of health and safety.
What opportunities are there?
Your employment prospects are very good, as skilled carpenters and joiners are in demand. Employers include local authorities, boat yards, theatre, television and stage design companies, and shopfitting firms.
The construction industry has the biggest demand and it anticipates a need for around 12,500 new recruits into the wood occupations each year between now and 2011.
If you are an experienced carpenter or joiner, you could progress to site supervision, clerk of works and construction management jobs, or move into a specialised area of work, such building restoration or prop making. You could also work in kitchen and bathroom fitting, teaching or move into self-employment.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading:
bConstructive
Construction Jobs Network
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