Furniture Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship

The Furniture Apprenticeship is delivered in the workplace and at the Rycotewood Furniture Centre workshops at City of Oxford College. It is taught by industry-trained vocational tutors.

This programme has been designed for people who wish to understand the theoretical and practical elements of furniture making. Units that could be covered are:

- Health and Safety
- Wood Machining
- Technical Drawing
- Historical Studies
- The Design Process
- Finishing

As a Level 2 apprentice you could work:

• as a cabinet/furniture maker – producing and assembling component pieces of furniture items including tables, chairs, cabinets, chests of drawers, lounge suites, office furniture and kitchen cupboards
• as a soft furnisher – measuring, cutting, and sewing fabrics to customer or company requirements, usually within a workshop

To gain your apprenticeship qualification you need to pass all of the following elements:

- Level 2 NVQ Furniture
- Functional Skills in English and maths
- Employment Rights and Responsibilities

Apprenticeships are designed to let you benefit from real life work experience which you will get day-to-day in your job. This experience is supported by the theory that you will study.

Your assessments are carried out by a qualified and trade competent assessor who will help support you and your employer in achieving your qualification. The functional skills are assessed by exam.

An apprenticeship is made up of an NVQ qualification as well as functional skills. You gain recognised qualifications while gaining valuable work experience.

You must be in employment in the relevant occupation for a minimum of 30 hours per week (or 16 hours per week in exceptional circumstances) to gain a place on one of our apprenticeship programmes. Your employer will need to agree to you becoming an apprentice as these are work-based qualifications.

Upon application you will be invited in for an interview and an initial assessment to make sure that the course is right for you. There are no other restrictions to becoming an apprentice except that you need to be over the age of 16 and to have been settled in the UK for at least the past three years.

You need to achieve Entry Level 3 in English and maths in your initial assessment.

You could progress to Level 3 qualifications and apprenticeships – see the other furniture courses offered at City of Oxford College.

The Rycotewood Furniture Centre is a leading name in education and training for the furniture industry.

Now located on-campus at City of Oxford College, and forming part of the National School of Furniture, the Rycotewood name has been in operation for more than 75 years. To find out more, see the furniture section of our website.