5 jobs in Carpentry & Joinery

Did you know that a recent study showed that the construction industry will need an extra 4,320 wood trades to meet demands? Not only this but the Federation of Master Builders’ most recent quarterly report highlighted that companies are particularly struggling to recruit carpenters.

Now is the time to start on your journey in a career in Carpentry & Joinery. Here are 5 top jobs you could consider.

Carpenter

If you work well with your hands, as well as having a good knowledge of building and construction, then a carpenter could be the perfect pathway for you. There are a variety of working environments available such as a workshop, a client’s business or on a construction site.

Duties: Typical duties of this role would be cutting and shaping timber for floorboards, doors, window frames or skirting boards. It could also be assembling furniture, building wooden supports or constructing sets such as for stages, TV and film.

What you can earn: Initial salary may start at around £17,000, but more experience roles could earn around £38,000.

Kitchen and Bathroom Fitter

A career as a Kitchen and Bathroom Fitter could suit you if you are thorough with good attention to detail, have good knowledge of maths, building and construction and have physical skills such as lifting, bending, and carrying.

Duties: For this role, the key focuses would be ripping out old units and suites and measuring out work areas. Then it would also include using a range of hand and power tools to fit units and appliances, alongside tiling walls and laying flooring.

What you can earn: Starting salary will be around the £17,000 mark, rising to around £35,000 when more experienced.

Furniture Maker

The main focuses for a Furniture Maker would be creating as well as restoring items like chairs, tables, or cabinets. You succeed in this career, you would need to be through and pay attention to detail, as well as have design skills and knowledge.

Duties: For this type of role, your main responsibilities would be cutting and shaping materials with hand and machine tools. It would also be creating designs for furniture on paper and on computer, as well as estimating the quantity and type of materials needed.

What you can earn: A starting wage for this role would be around £14,000, and this can increase to £30,000 when more experienced.

Wood Machinist

As a Wood Machinist it would be beneficial to have patience and the ability to remain calm, as well as persistence and determination. The focus of the role is cutting and preparing timber for use in wood products, so also physical skills such as movement, coordination and dexterity would be beneficial.

Duties: Typical duties for this role would be planning jobs and following technical drawings, as well as working out the amount of timber needed. Other duties could be cutting and shaping timber using tools like saws, planes, and routers.

What you can earn: A starting wage will typically be around £16,000 up to £28,000 when more experienced.

Shopfitter

For this role, you’d be making and installing fixtures and fittings in offices, shops and bars. To really succeed in this role, you’ll need to have good working knowledge of maths, building and construction.

Duties: As a Shopfitter your main roles would be marking out and cutting wood, metal, glass and plastic to make units in a workshop. Your duties could also include estimating material quantities and costs, preparing design plans or installing units.

What you can earn: Entry level is around £17,000 however; this can increase to £35,000 and above once fully qualified and experienced.

What training do I need for a career in Carpentry & Joinery?

There are so many paths you can go down to find your dream career in Carpentry & Joinery. Get started today and find the right course for you.