Furniture Makers & Other Craft Woodworkers

Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers make, repair and restore wooden furniture, decorative objects and other crafted pieces of woodwork.

Tasks

  • Examines drawings and specifications to determine job requirements and appropriate materials
  • Selects, measures, cuts and shapes wood using saws, chisels, planes, powered hand tools and woodworking machines
  • Assembles parts with crafted joints, nails, screws, dowels or adhesives and fits locks, catches, hinges, castors, drawers, shelves and other fittings
  • Removes, replaces or repairs damaged parts of wooden furniture
  • Measures floor area to be covered and lays wood blocks, parquet panels or hardwood strips
  • Matches and marks out veneers ready for cutting and examines and repairs defects in veneer or plywood sheets.

Entry Requirements

There are no formal entry requirements, although entrants typically possess a variety of academic and vocational qualifications. Training is provided off- and on-the-job. A number of NVQs/SVQs and other vocational qualifications covering various aspects of furniture production and wood machining are available at various levels. Apprenticeships in Cabinet Making are available in some areas.

What could I earn?

Salaries for this occupation tend to start at £22,000 per annum and can progress up to £25,000 per annum.

Is it in growth or decline?

There are currently 4,478 employed Furniture Makers & Other Craft Woodworkers in the region.