Carpentry Apprentice

South Devon College; Highweek; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 18,000; Full time

Job summary

South Devon College is offering a Carpentry Apprenticeship. You will learn hands-on carpentry across domestic and commercial projects, under supervision of qualified carpenters, with on‑site duties and structured training.

The program includes time away for specialist training and safety instruction, with a strong emphasis on practical skills, reading drawings, and evolving from first to second fix tasks.

Qualifications

• Customer care skills required.
• Proactive and able to take initiative on site.

Responsibilities

• Assist with unloading tools and materials and learn daily tasks.
• Follow lead carpenter instructions and perform tasks safely.
• Measure, mark out, cut materials and install basic components under supervision.

Skills

Customer care skills

Initiative

Education

GCSE Maths & English (grade 4+)

Job description

Closes in 16 days (Friday 4 September 2026 at 11:59pm)

We are looking for a motivated and reliable Carpentry Apprentice to join our team. This role is ideal for someone eager to learn practical skills, work hard, and develop a career in the construction industry.

Wage

£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands‑on experience.

What you'll do at work

You willlearn how to create,installand repair building components across domestic and commercial projects.

Gaininghands‑onexperience under the supervision of qualified carpenters.

Typical tasks include measuring and marking out,cuttingand shaping timber, installing doors, windows, staircases, floors and partitions, and carrying out repairs and maintenance.

You willalso learn essential skills such as reading drawings, selecting correct materials, safe tool use, and following health & safety procedures.

Daily Duties:

• Assistingwith unloading tools and materials at each job and learning what isrequiredfor the day’s tasks
• Taking instructions from the lead carpenter and following guidance throughout the workday
• Carrying out tasks to the best of your ability, safely and as instructed
• Keeping your work area clean, tidy and safe at the end of each day

What You Will Learn

You will gainhands‑onexperience in bothresidential anddomesticenvironments,learning a wide range of carpentry skills including:

• Measuring, markingoutand cutting materials
• Using hand tools and power tools safely
• Second fix work
• Understanding drawings,materialsand job requirements
• Working safely on active construction sites

Where you'll work

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

• Comply with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
• Identify and use safety control equipment, for example, RPE, dust suppression, PPE and LEV.
• Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
• Comply with industry regulations, standards, and guidance.
• Prepare and maintain a safe working area.
• Interpret and use information from drawings and specifications.
• Estimate required materials and produce a cutting list.
• Verbally communicate with others, applying construction terminology.
• Select, use and store hand tools.
• Select, use and store power tools.
• Maintain and sharpen hand tools.
• Identifies well-being support available to self and others.
• Site carpenter: Apply first fix techniques and practices for: 1. structural carcassing (load bearing studwork), 2. straight timber or metal partition walls, 3. floor joists 4. floor joist coverings and 5. straight flights of stairs.
• Site carpenter: Install structural fixings.
• Site carpenter: Size timber from sizing tables.
• Site carpenter: Apply site second fix techniques and practices for: 1. service encasement, 2. cladding 3. wall and floor units and fitments, 4. handrails and spindles to straight flights of stairs, 5. internal and external doors, 6. skirting boards and architrave, 7. window boards.
• Site carpenter: Apply site carpenter techniques and practices to construction of rafter roofs, including trussed (prefabricated) and traditional (built on site) including the construction of verge, eaves and fitting loft access.
• Site carpenter: Use and store laser levels for example cross line laser.
• Site carpenter: Form connections, for example, using joints, nails, screws, bolts and adhesive.
• Site carpenter: Apply measuring, marking out, cutting (square and angled), mitring, hinging and recessing techniques.
• Site carpenter: Carrying out splicing and scribing techniques.
• Architectural joiner: Produce setting out details, including setting rods, and mark out for timber products.
• Architectural joiner: Produce basic woodworking joints including dovetail, bridal, mortise and tenon and halving.
• Architectural joiner: Form connections using dowels, biscuit, staples and adhesives.
• Architectural joiner: Apply techniques and practices to the manufacture and assembly of a timber window with casement including glazing rebates and associated ironmongery.
• Architectural joiner: Apply manufacture and assembly techniques for first fix products: 1. straight staircases, 2. door frames and linings.
• Architectural joiner: Apply manufacture and assembly techniques for second fix products: 1. timber doors, 2. wall and floor units, 3. timber mouldings, 4. staircase spindles and balustrades.
• Architectural joiner: Fit ironmongery including door locks, door handles, door hinges, latches and draw runners.
• Architectural joiner: Inspect, prepare and operate fixed machinery.
• Comply with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
• Identify and use safety control equipment, for example, RPE, dust suppression, PPE and LEV.
• Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
• Comply with industry regulations, standards, and guidance.
• Prepare and maintain a safe working area.
• Interpret and use information from drawings and specifications.
• Estimate required materials and produce a cutting list.
• Verbally communicate with others, applying construction terminology.
• Select, use and store hand tools.
• Select, use and store power tools.
• Maintain and sharpen hand tools.
• Identifies well-being support available to self and others.

Your training will be delivered by South Devon College on block release.

More training information

During your apprenticeship you'll be provided with the following training courses:

• Health and safety awareness
• Working at height

Requirements

GCSE in:

Maths & English (grade 4 or above)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Customer care skills
• Initiative

Other requirements

There will be an expectation to work outside sometimes in the rain and there will sometimes be heavy lifting.

About this employer

EMC is a professional carpentry and joinery business based in Newton Abbot, Devon, serving South Devon including Plymouth and Tiverton. Established with over 11 years of experience, they specialize in both domestic and commercial projects.

From everyday improvements like door replacements and flooring, through to full renovations, extensions, and bespoke built-ins, all work is approached with care, attention to detail, and pride in the finish. Whether it’s a small job or a large project, you’ll be working directly with a skilled, trusted tradesperson who values transparency and takes the time to get things right.

After completion of apprenticeship, we hope they will have enough skills and confidence to take on small carpentry tasks on their own and with little guidance, working from a job sheet.

Once the Full Apprenticeship programme is completed, we hope you will have enough skills and confidence to take on small carpentry tasks on their own and with little guidance, working from a job sheet.

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SOUTH DEVON COLLEGE

07531289909

The reference code for this apprenticeship isVAC2000047616.