Furniture finishers prepare and treat wood and manufactured boards, for example MDF and veneered boards to give it a smooth finish and bring out its natural beauty. Items to be finished could range from tables, chairs, lounge suites, cabinets, chests of drawers, bespoke furniture, kitchen units and shop fittings.
This occupation is found in the furniture and interiors industry. Furniture finishers prepare and treat wood and manufactured boards, for example MDF and veneered boards to give it a smooth finish and bring out its natural beauty. Items to be finished could range from tables, chairs, lounge suites, cabinets, chests of drawers, bespoke furniture, kitchen units and shop fittings. They may also work on fitted items such as staircases, wall panels and doors and on musical instruments like pianos. With antique furniture and some specially commissioned modern pieces, polishing and finishing are carried out by hand. Building up layers of polish is a slow and methodical process. With modern manufacturing and mass-produced items, furniture finishers also use a pressure spray-painting method. Furniture finishers may also be involved in carrying out simple repairs. Employers vary in size from micro to large.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to finish furniture by applying modern and traditional finishing products. Furniture finishers analyse and agree requirements and prepare hand crafted or production furniture for finishing. They identify and apply different types of finishes creating decorative effects or specialist finishes on furniture such as French polishing. They operate machinery and carry out routine maintenance. They also solve routine problems and issues and contribute to continuous improvement activities. Furniture finishers can work in a range of environments from small workshops to large factories and may be required to work various shift patterns.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with furniture manufacturers, designers, production or manufacturing managers, quality technicians, cabinet makers and joiners, production leaders and product developers. In smaller organisations they may also interact with customers. They usually report to a supervisor or shift team leader.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for preparing and treating a wide range of timbers and man-made boards, using a range of techniques. They are responsible for the quality of their own work and meeting production targets. All work must be completed in line with health, safety and environmental regulations and considerations. They must wear personal protective equipment such as goggles, masks and protective clothing.
This is a summary of the key things that you – the apprentice and your employer need to know about your end-point assessment (EPA). You and your employer should read the EPA plan for the full details. It has information on assessment method requirements, roles and responsibilities, and re-sits and re-takes.
An EPA is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. Your training will cover the KSBs. The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for.
Your employer will choose an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) to deliver the EPA. Your employer and training provider should tell you what to expect and how to prepare for your EPA.
The length of the training for this apprenticeship is typically 15 months. The EPA period is typically 3 months.
The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:
The EPA gateway is when the EPAO checks and confirms that you have met any requirements required before you start the EPA. You will only enter the gateway when your employer says you are ready.
The gateway requirements for your EPA are:
Observation with questions
You will be observed by an independent assessor completing your work. It will last at least 3 hours. They will ask you at least 2 questions.
Interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
You will have an interview with an independent assessor. It will last at least 60 minutes. They will ask you at least 10 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of your occupation. You need to compile a portfolio of evidence before the EPA gateway. You can use it to help answer the questions.
You should speak to your employer if you have a query that relates to your job.
You should speak to your training provider if you have any questions about your training or EPA before it starts.
You should receive detailed information and support from the EPAO before the EPA starts. You should speak to them if you have any questions about your EPA once it has started.Reasonable adjustments
If you have a disability, a physical or mental health condition or other special considerations, you may be able to have a reasonable adjustment that takes this into account. You should speak to your employer, training provider and EPAO and ask them what support you can get. The EPAO will decide if an adjustment is appropriate.
Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
---|---|---|---|
1.0 | Approved for delivery | 22/08/2024 | Not set |
Crown copyright © 2025. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. Visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence