Scenic Carpentry Apprentice

Summary

The Scenic Carpentry Apprenticeship is an opportunity to learn and understand the trade of scenic carpenter within the performing arts industry.

Wage

£16,685.50 to £26,984.10, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

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Training course

Carpentry and joinery (level 2)

Hours

Working week is 42.5 hours: Monday – Friday, 8am – 4.30pm.

42 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

Work

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

What you’ll do at work

Assist in making stage scenery using a wide range of techniques, materials and finishes.
Maintain a safe and tidy work area, carrying out machine maintenance and cleaning as instructed.
Assist in applying different materials to scenery as directed.
Keep up to date with any new and improved scenery-making techniques, materials or ways of working.
Have a positive and responsible attitude to health and safety.
Submit learning logs and diaries to the Apprenticeships Manager.

Where you’ll work

Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop
High House Production Park
Off Purfleet Bypass
Purfleet
RM19 1AS

Training

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

College or training organisation

BUILDING CRAFTS COLLEGE

Your training course

Carpentry and joinery (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents

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.
Produce jigs.
Identifies well-being support available to self and others.
Site carpenter: Apply first fix techniques and practices for: 1. structural carcassing, 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.
Produce jigs.
Identifies well-being support available to self and others.

Your training plan

You will be based at our purpose-built production workshop in the High House Production Park in Purfleet, Essex.
Your time will be split between the workshops and the Building Crafts College in Stratford, E15, where you will study for a Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery Apprenticeship Standard.
Work is usually carried out at the carpentry and metalwork workshops in Purfleet, Essex, but you may occasionally be required to work at other venues.
Time at college will be in 2-3 week blocks.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

Other in:

(no previous qualifications required) (grade n/a)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Problem solving skills
Team working
Previous woodwork experience
Enjoy working with your hands
Helpful, positive and flexible
Punctual
Self-motivated
Willing to work at height
Good spatial awareness
Respectful approach to safety

Other requirements

You must be 18 years old or over on 1 Sept 2025. You must have work authorisation for the UK. You must not have completed a university degree or equivalent in the UK or elsewhere (regardless of subject). You must be physically capable of undertaking the requirements of the job. Reasonable adjustments will be considered as part of your application.

About this company

We bring together the world’s most extraordinary artists in live, streamed and broadcast events and performances that thrill, move and excite; that transport people to other worlds. Our theatres are in London’s Covent Garden but our work is accessed and experienced across the UK and globally through touring partnerships, cinema programmes, free outdoor screenings, radio, TV and live-streaming.

http://www.roh.org.uk/apprenticeships (opens in new tab)

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Able to secure an entry-level role in Scenic Carpentry / Construction or similar in the creative industries.
Put all the skills learnt at college into practice in a production workshop environment.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BUILDING CRAFTS COLLEGE

recruitment@roh.org.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000314686.

Apply now

Closes in 21 days (Monday 12 May 2025)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

Give yourself plenty of time to complete the application form. These apprenticeships are designed for people who are passionate about pursuing a career, but who still have lots to learn! Don’t be afraid to give examples from your hobbies, clubs or school activities. We are not necessarily looking for any experience in a workplace (your previous woodworking experience could be at school, youth club, home or a workplace etc.).

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