What's involved

Carpenters and joiners make and install the wooden fixtures and fittings found in household and commercial construction projects.

These can include floor joists, floorboards, kitchen and bathroom units, window frames, doors, roof trusses and wall partitions. It also involves hanging doors and boxing in pipes and is a skilled job that uses special tools and many different kinds of wood.

As with all trades, a carpenter and joiner needs to have a good understanding of how to work safely.

Skills required

If you enjoy using your practical ability, have good coordination skills, a methodical approach to work and an eye for detail, then becoming a carpenter and joiner could be ideal for you.

You'll need to be able to follow technical drawings and plans, as well as being good at Maths to measure and calculate angles. You'll also need to be fit and happy to work on your own as well as part of a team.

Qualifications required

There are no formal requirements although it would help to have GCSE's in English or Welsh and Maths at A*-C (Applications from students with the Foundation or Intermediate Welsh Baccalaureate are also welcomed).

Salary ranges

(This is a guide to the average salary a fully qualified and experienced person might expect to get.)

£17,000 - £31,000

Progression routes

Apprentices who follow the Carpentry and Joinery/Shopfitting pathway can have a varied career working on new builds, refurbishments or in specialist areas. Bench Joinery apprentices will see a variety of wood products in production, depending upon the company.

This apprenticeship will enable progression to:

• Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3) in Site Carpentry

After gaining work experience, there are also opportunities to progress into furniture production, occupational work supervision, management or technical support areas.

Find out more about this role from an apprentice's point of view