Carpentry is an exciting trade, which is in high demand! It is a very skilled trade, with carpenters using natural materials (wood/timber) to cut, shape and install wooden structures, fittings and furniture.

In the UK there are more than 5,000 organisations who recruit carpenters, with an estimated turnover of nearly £4 billion.

With so much demand, you might be wondering how to become a carpenter? Well, you’ve come to the right place!

There are several different routes you can take to become a carpenter or joiner. You might be someone that is looking to earn while they learn, and the good news is, you can do this through an apprenticeship. Or you might be someone that wants to complete a course to learn some skills before entering the carpentry – whether this be full-time or part-time with evening courses.

Let’s look at the options in a little bit more detail.

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a fantastic way of entering the industry, and can be a great way to get your foot in the door with a local organisation that is looking to grow and develop their workforce.

Apprenticeships are open to anyone over the age of 16, so you could be a school leaver, or someone that wants to turn their passion into a career. As an apprentice you will be employed by the company, and complete training at college – you will be expected to work at least 30 hours a week, with the rest of your hours being training.

You can complete apprenticeships at a number of Levels, depending on your experience and skill level. At Weston College, we offer several different carpentry apprenticeships, click the course below to find out more:

• Carpentry and Joinery Level 2 – 14 months
• Site Carpentry Level 2 – 14 months
• Carpentry and Joinery Level 3 – 12 months
• Site Carpentry Level 3 – 12 months

Once you have completed your apprenticeship, you can either further your development by studying the next level, or go into full-time work.

Before you work on a construction site, you will need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.

College Courses

If you would prefer to study at College, there are a range of options available, from full-time courses to shorter part-time courses.

We offer courses for Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3, which all aim to develop your skills and prepare you for life as a carpenter.

On our full-time courses you will be part of our Construction Career Excellence Hub, which means that you will get unrivalled access to employers, with opportunities for work experience, master classes and hearing from industry insiders. Our construction courses are all endorsed by organisations from industry.

We also offer FREE adult courses in Carpentry, which allow you to sharpen your skills and are a great opportunity to change careers.

If you'd like to find out more about a career in carpentry, come along to one of our open evenings and chat to the team, they will be more than happy to help!