What's involved

A woodworking machinist cuts and prepares timber for builders' merchants, DIY stores and furniture makers, as well as the construction industry. They also maintain the equipment used in the workplace.

They make a range of timber products; for example, floorboards and skirting boards, staircases, door and window frames, kitchen units and cabinets.

As well as hand tools, a woodworking machinist may use computer numerically controlled equipment (CNC) and may also be trained to use computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) methods.

Skills required

You'll need to be safety conscious and able to follow detailed instructions, as well as having good levels of concentration and attention to detail.

Good maths skills are really important to make calculations and take measurements and you need to be happy working on your own and in 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.)

£15,500 - £22,000

Progression routes

Woodworking machinists can move into furniture making or related work like bench joinery, shopfitting or kitchen and bathroom installation and, with experience, into supervisory roles.