Handmade Kitchens Industry Needs More Cabinet Makers
The handmade kitchens industry is always on the lookout for skilled cabinet makers, making the profession a great choice for anyone looking to start a new career.
Unfortunately, many people have no idea how they would even start down that path.
Luckily, the process is quite easy. We have put together this short guide to give you the knowledge and resources you need to get started as a cabinet maker.
Cabinet Maker Qualifications
While there are no set qualifications for cabinet makers, you will need to develop carpentry and joinery skills.
You could do this through an apprenticeship if you qualify.
If you don’t qualify for an apprenticeship, or you can’t get by on an apprentice’s wage, there are weekend carpentry classes available that will allow you to develop the skills you need before you hand in your notice.
That being said, you will need to be good with your hands, good with numbers and have great spacial sense if you want to excel in the field.
What Does A Cabinet Maker Do?
Cabinet makers must develop a varied skill set, with both technical and interpersonal skills being important on a daily basis.
A job as a cabinet maker often involves: • Working with technical drawings. • Cutting and shaping. • Designing cabinets. • Consulting with customers on design and price. • Assessing a project’s material needs. • Cabinet assembly. • Fitting hinges, handles etc. • Cabinet repair. • Applying finishes.
Of course, with a general carpentry skill set, cabinet makers often find themselves doing other carpentry work as needed. But how much does a cabinet maker earn?
Cabinet Maker Salary
Starting out: £14-17k
Experienced: £18-25k
Expert: £30k+
Work/Life Balance For Cabinet Makers
What your schedule looks like as a cabinet maker will depend on whether you are employed by a company or self-employed.
As a self-employed cabinet maker, you will be able to choose your own hours. However, you will also be responsible for your own income, productivity, sick pay etc.
A full time cabinet maker employed in the handmade kitchens industry will usually work around 39 hours a week, though weekend work and overtime are common when deadlines loom.
How To Find A Training Course
If you aren’t doing an apprenticeship, you will need to take a training course on carpentry and joinery in order to get in to a job as a cabinet maker in the handmade kitchens industry.
What kind of course you go for depends entirely on your situation.
It may be that you need to work full time while training, in which case it may be best to study at the weekends. These courses from ableskills.com allow you to train every other weekend to help you avoid burnout.
But you might prefer to get qualified as quickly as possible, in which case there are full time courses available too!
In fact, you could finish a qualification in carpentry and joinery in as little as 10 weeks.
When choosing a course, remember to check the institution’s accreditations. Institutions approved
