woodworking jobs

About Carpenter Oak

Carpenter Oak creates award-winning, architecturally inspired timber structures, championing wood, craft, innovation, and sustainable design. Since 1987, we have been crafting bespoke, one-of-a-kind timber frames that stand for generations. As an employee-owned business, 51% owned by our co-owners through a Trust, we believe that shared ownership fosters stronger relationships, better decision-making, and a more meaningful workplace.

Our business is built on four core pillars, our people, our product, a force for good, and success-driven outcomes. We value transparency, wellbeing, and collaboration, and we empower our co-owners to grow, innovate, and take pride in their work. A passion for architecture, craftsmanship, and exceptional design is essential to thrive here.

Position Overview

Working within the glazing team at Carpenter Oak is more than just a job – it’s a craft. We provide hands-on training, support your development, and help you build a long-term career specialising in direct glazing for structural timber frames.

You will be part of a team that delivers high-quality glazing installation using direct glazing methods in line with PAS 24 standards, working on a wide variety of inspiring build projects. Our work ranges from major heritage restorations to innovative contemporary timber engineering schemes, across both residential and commercial sectors.

As an employee-owned business, we value collaboration, skill, and pride in workmanship. If you’re looking to grow your expertise in a progressive environment while contributing to exceptional timber and glazing installations, we’d love to hear from you.

As a trainee, no specific qualifications are required, but any of the following would be useful:

• Carpentry qualifications: NVQ, City & Guilds etc.
• CSCS card, H&S test, First aid, Forklift, Chainsaw, Scaffold towers.
• Crane & lifting operations: Slinger, Lift Supervisor.

General characteristics and skills:

• Enthusiasm, enjoyment for work. Eagerness to learn and develop.
• Self-motivated
• Forward-thinking, solutions focussed
• Conscientious and self-responsible
• Humility, willingness to take instruction
• Care and attention to detail
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines

Organizational skills and ability:

• Good organizational and planning skills
• Effective communication skills
• Ability to work in close team and aware of the needs of others
• High degree of autonomy and ability to work on own initiative.

Craftsmanship:

• Focus on quality
• Exercise care and attention to detail
• Tidy, productive & efficient

Physical ability:

• Physically fit and able
• Good hand-eye coordination and ability to pick up hand skills
• Methodical and careful in practice
• Confidence working at height
• Willingness to work outdoors, in very challenging conditions, in all weathers

Desirable skills and experience:

• Understanding of timber
• Green woodworking
• Carpentry experience especially roofing
• Hands on building experience and site work
• Interpreting architects details and construction drawings
• Trigonometry and geometry
• Use & maintenance of power tools and hand tools

Working Environment:

• Based at Carpenter Oak’s Yard in Buckfastleigh, near the Abbey.
• Time spent on site throughout the UK & overseas as required (typically 80% of the time).

Package:

• Basis: Full time, permanent.
• Hours: 40 hours per week.
• Some weekend work and overtime as required. Some away work as required (typically 80% of the time).
• Rate of Pay - dependent on experience - £12.60 - £13.73 p/h
• Uplift of £1.50/hr for local site work.
• Uplift of £3.00/hr for away work.
• Salary Exchange Pension scheme.
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays.
• All necessary on the job training, including tickets and qualifications will be provided.
• Regular training and performance reviews.

Benefits:

• Family friendly policies
• Pension - 3% employer contribution increasing after 5 years and matched to 5%. Increasing each year thereafter. Max 10%
• Annual co-owner bonus
• Family friendly social events
• On-site parking
• Firewood allowance
• Cycle to work scheme
• All travel, food & accommodation provided while away on site.
• £350 Annual Tool & Equipment allowance.
• Subsidized personal accident/income protection insurance scheme.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £12.60-£13.73 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Additional leave
• Bereavement leave
• Casual dress
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• On-site parking
• Referral programme

Work Location: In person