Furniture restorer
Level 3 · AdvancedCreative and design 3 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
A Furniture Restorer apprenticeship trains you in the specialist craft skills to conserve, repair, and restore antique and period furniture using traditional techniques and materials that are sympathetic to the original piece. You will develop expertise in woodwork, upholstery, gilding, and surface finishing within a workshop or conservation setting. This standard leads to specialist conservator, antique dealer support, or museum conservation roles.
On the job
What you’ll learn
History of furniture making styles and periods
Traditional hand tool joinery and repair techniques
Veneer and marquetry repair and patching methods
French polishing and traditional surface finishing
Upholstery restoration using traditional materials
Gilding, re-gilding, and decorative surface treatments
Ethics of conservation - reversibility and minimal intervention
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Assess condition and identify restoration needs of antique pieces
Repair broken joints, missing parts, and structural damage
Patch veneers and match grain and colour carefully
Apply traditional French polish and hand finishes
Restore or re-upholster seats using traditional methods
Carry out gilding or surface decoration repairs
Document work carried out and photograph before and after
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 3 (Advanced) - roughly A-level level. Employers usually look for some GCSEs (often English & maths around grade 4/C) or a Level 2 apprenticeship first. English & maths can sometimes be finished during training.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 4/5 (Higher) apprenticeship, or straight into the role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
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What it’s really like
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