Carpentry & Joinery

If you love working with your hands and creating new things, build the skills for a career in a skilled trade at Willerby Grove Campus, Peterlee.

Choose your course

Whether you're a school leaver or an adult looking to retrain, get hands-on experience in our industry-standard workshop and learn the tools, techniques and professional behaviours employers look for.

Carpentry & Joinery overview

Carpentry and joinery are skilled trades at the heart of the construction industry. With ongoing skills shortages across the UK, trained carpenters and joiners are in high demand – and can progress to well-paid and rewarding careers.

Joiners make the components, such as doors and wooden supports, and carpenters fit them on site. The two roles often work together, and many people build skills in both.

Learn the skills you need to build bespoke furniture, work on construction sites or progress to higher-level roles in the industry.

View all Carpentry & Joinery courses by visiting the course finder.

What you'll study

Throughout your course, you'll develop practical and technical skills such as:

using hand and power tools safely and effectively
measuring, marking out and cutting materials
creating joints and structures
installing fixtures and fittings, including door fitting
reading drawings and following specifications
technical drawing, calculations and planning
understanding construction methods and site expectations

You'll start with projects such as bird boxes and build up to complex work like roofing joists. You'll practise in real workshop environments, gaining the confidence to work independently and meet professional standards.

Our carpentry & joinery facilities

You'll train in our fully equipped carpentry and joinery workshop, featuring:

spacious work areas and individual bays
a wide range of tools and materials
high-end equipment such as DEWALT plunge saws, Paslode nail guns and laser levels
dedicated classroom spaces that link theory to practice

These facilities mirror real site conditions, helping you prepare for work from day one.

Learning beyond the workshop

We work closely with employers to help you understand how the industry works and what will help you stand out. During your studies, you'll take part in:

site visits
career seminars
masterclasses with industry professionals
mock interviews
work experience placements
student award events

These experiences help you grow your confidence, broaden your understanding and build valuable industry connections. Your lecturers are skilled tradespeople with real industry experience, and we have strong links with local construction firms.

Where it could lead

Because demand is high, many students progress into apprenticeships or employment soon after finishing their course. Many of our Level 2 students progress directly into employment or into highly valued apprenticeships with partners through our Developing Futures partnership.

Depending on your level of study, you could work as:

a carpenter
a joiner
a bench joiner or furniture maker
a site carpenter

You could also progress to a construction-related apprenticeship or higher-level study, building towards a career in site management or construction.

Fees & funding

Course fees vary by level. Full-time courses are free for 16 to 18-year-olds. Adult students may also be eligible for funding depending on circumstances.

To find out more, check our Course Fees & Funding page.