Apprenticeship training course

Furniture restorer (level 3)

Furniture restorers repair and protect pieces of modern and old furniture, returning them as closely as possible to their original condition.

• Qualification level: 3 ; Equivalent to A level.
• Typical duration: 36 months
• Apprenticeship category: Creative and design
• Maximum funding: £13,000 ; Maximum amount government will fund ; for apprenticeship training.
• Also known as:
  • Craft technician
  • Furniture conservator
  • Furniture guilder
  • Furniture restorer
  • Historic interiors conservator
• Skills:
  Skills an apprentice will learn

  • Conduct assessment of furniture pieces to be restored to establish date or period, materials and finish used and repairs required.
  • Use appropriate project management tools and techniques to identify milestones, targets and deadlines.
  • Specify furniture restoration requirements for work to be completed.
  • Record information.
  • Build a complete and accurate picture of original techniques and materials used in producing furniture items to be restored.
  • Research information on furniture pieces to be restored and necessary equipment and techniques for restoration.
  • Agree furniture restoration work to be carried out with internal or external customers.
  • Present conditions and options reports to internal or external customers.
  • Prepare comprehensive reports on the furniture restoration work undertaken.
  • Provide customers with advice on mitigating further damage to restored pieces.
  • Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures.
  • Review and select techniques, procedures and methods to undertake furniture restoration tasks.
  • Ensure resources (whether physical, financial and or human) are used efficiently.
  • Set up, operate and monitor furniture restoration machinery, tools and equipment.
  • Maintain work area in a clean, tidy, organised state and free from hazards.
  • Carry out structural, surface and finishing repairs to furniture pieces to be restored.
  • Re-make and repair joints to furniture pieces to be restored.
  • Replace fixtures and fittings to furniture pieces to be restored.
  • Replicate and restore furniture components.
  • Remove, make, re-lay, and patch veneers to furniture pieces to be restored.
  • Re-upholster furniture pieces or components.
  • Store furniture restoration materials, tools, and equipment safely in the approved locations.
  • Prepare surfaces for finishes and apply finishes using effective techniques and appropriate tools for the kind of materials and type of surface on furniture pieces to be restored.
  • Create decorative effects to meet furniture restoration requirements.
  • Identify and report faults, snags and issues. Carry out rectification work where required, following a root cause analysis.
  • Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques to problems.
  • Carry out required maintenance responsibilities within acceptable timescales.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
  • Use digital collaboration tools to meet with, share and collaborate with colleagues and customers.
  • Communicate (written and verbal) using appropriate digital tools and techniques.

Full information on Furniture restorer (level 3) is available from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

Find training providers for this course

Apprenticeship location

Check if a provider can offer this training for the apprenticeship location.