Gain hands-on experience as an Apprentice Bench Joiner at the historic Castle Howard Estate. Learn traditional and modern woodworking skills, help maintain and restore estate properties, and work alongside experienced craftspeople. A fantastic opportunity to start a career in a skilled trade and help preserve historic structures.
Annual wage: £16,640 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Carpentry and joinery (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday. Start: 7:30am. Finish: 4:00pm. 30-minute unpaid lunch break. Some flexibility may be required to meet business needs.
40.0 hours a week
Possible start date: Monday 31 August 2026
Duration: 2 Years
Positions available: 1
As an apprentice, you'll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You'll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.
Are you interested in learning a skilled trade while working in one of Britain's most iconic historic estates?
Castle Howard is seeking an enthusiastic Apprentice Bench Joiner to join its skilled team. This is an exciting opportunity to develop practical woodworking and joinery skills while helping to maintain, repair and preserve a wide range of historic buildings and estate properties. Castle Howard is a 300-year-old family home, a diverse working rural estate and an award-winning visitor attraction welcoming over 250,000 visitors each year.
Working alongside experienced joiners, you will gain hands-on experience in traditional and modern bench joinery techniques, producing and restoring timber products to a high standard. You'll learn valuable skills in manufacturing, repairing and maintaining wooden structures while contributing to the conservation of a unique heritage environment.
As part of your apprenticeship, you will:
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys practical work, has an eye for detail and wants to build a career in a skilled trade.
An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.
TEC PARTNERSHIP
Carpentry and joinery (level 2)
Training will be delivered through day release and workplace learning.
You will receive support and guidance from experienced joiners and mentors throughout your apprenticeship.
GCSE in:
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
This is a physically active role involving manual handling and standing for extended periods.
You will be working within a busy workshop and estate environment.
Due to the rural location of Castle Howard, access to reliable transport is desirable. A driving licence and access to a vehicle would be advantageous.
Castle Howard is a diverse rural estate and award-winning visitor attraction near York, welcoming more than 250,000 visitors each year. Built over 300 years ago, it remains a family home and features historic buildings, gardens, retail outlets, cafés, farming, forestry and a range of estate businesses.
As an Apprentice Bench Joiner, you will join a skilled and supportive team, helping to maintain and preserve historic buildings and estate assets while developing valuable woodworking and joinery skills.
https://www.castlehoward.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, and subject to achieving the required college standards and maintaining a good standard of performance, quality of work, attendance and conduct, there may be the opportunity to progress into a full-time, permanent Bench Joiner position within Castle Howard.
A successful apprenticeship could provide the foundation for a long-term career within the estate's maintenance and heritage conservation teams.
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CASTLE HOWARD ESTATE LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000039975.
Closes on Friday 31 July 2026
