Furniture, Furnishings and Interiors Manufacturing Industry

This Apprenticeship covers a range of occupations involved with the manufacture and production of furniture. Without the furniture industry, the world would be an empty and uncomfortable place: there’ll always be a need for skilled people to design, make and install furniture for our homes, offices and public areas. The job takes creativity, plus knowledge of machinery and production techniques.

The industry is mainly covered by three sectors:

• Domestic (home furnishings sold in shops)
• Office (desks, tables and other workplace items)
• Contract (furniture for hotels, airports and other large public areas).

Some skills – like upholstery, wood machining and product design – are used across all three sectors.

As an apprentice, your duties will depend on your employer. You could learn to produce wood ready for furniture making; install kitchens and bathrooms; or design and make different types of furniture. You might learn skills like veneering, polishing and finishing or mattress making.

After successful completion of this Apprenticeship, the opportunities are considerable: making curtains, restoring antique furniture, installing cabinets, creating handmade furniture… The sector ranges from large companies working on big contracts to small independent craftspeople – you could run your own business one day too.