This apprenticeship standard is being revised. The trailblazer group has not yet submitted a revised version for approval. In the meantime, the version below remains approved for delivery. Further details of this and other apprenticeship standards in revision are available in the revisions status report.

Overview of the role

Creating initial ideas, design concepts and plans for fitted furniture interiors.

Details of standard

Occupation summary

This occupation is found in the Furniture, Furnishings and Interiors industry.  Consumer expenditure on furniture and furnishings in 2016 reached £16.7 billion. In addition to this there is an unquantified value of product entering the contract and office markets. 

The broad purpose of the occupation is to create initial ideas, design concepts and plans for fitted furniture interiors and create technical drawings by hand or computer.

Fitted Furniture Design Technician’s work with customers to create their perfect design for their chosen interior. They provide innovative and creative solutions that meet the needs of their client, taking account of the use and location of the product.  This includes fitted kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, car interiors, boats and ships. In addition, they are often required to work on bespoke one-off commercial developments such as, restaurants, hotels, bars, offices, leisure and health centre projects.

Fitted Furniture Design Technician’s create fitted furniture designs using their knowledge of industry specific legislation and understanding of products and materials for interiors.  They manage the project from inception through to completion.  In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a range of people including managers, sales colleagues, customers, installers and suppliers.

Fitted Furniture Design Technicians can work in a range of environments from small businesses to large retail organisations.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for liaising directly with customers and the installation and supply teams. They will be required to manage the project from design through to installation. They usually report to a supervisor or manager and are not usually responsible for staff.

Typical job titles include:

Bathroom designer Cad advisor Design technician Fitted bedroom designer Fitted furntiture design technician Furniture design technician’s design/sales consultant Interior designer Kitchen designer Planning assistant Showroom sales consultant and showroom designer

Occupation duties

Duty Criteria for measuring performance KSBs

Duty 1 Work safely at all times following relevant legislation and regulations and ensuring the safety of self and others

Comply with relevant legislation and regulations

K1

S1

B1

Duty 2 Plan, organise and manage furniture design and/or installation projects from conception to completion

Delivered in line with agreed timescale/cost/industry standards

K2 K3

S2 S3

B2 B3

Duty 3 Create suitable fitted furniture designs and concepts for furniture to be installed meeting customer requirements

Delivered in line with customer expectations/specifications

K2 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10

S4 S5 S6 S7

B4 B5 B6

Duty 4 Present fitted furniture designs to customers in order to get buy-in and agree next stages

Communicated clearly and succinctly

K11 K12

S8 S9

B5 B7 B8

Duty 5 Survey locations accurately in order to produce suitable designs for furniture to be installed

Delivered in line with customer expectations/specifications

Accurate

K13 K14 K15

S10 S11 S12

B4 B5

Duty 6 Provide accurate quotes to customers, cost and price fitted furniture concept designs using quoting software systems in order to secure sales

Accurate

Communicated clearly and succinctly

K16 K17

S13

B4

Duty 7 Maintain fitted furniture retail showrooms in good condition in order to gain customers interest in products and services

Maintain showroom to company standards

K18 K19

S14

B4

Duty 8 Deliver on fitted furniture sales targets and enhance opportunities for further income growth.

Delivered in line with agreed targets

K20 K21

S15

B9 B10

Duty 9 Provide an effective fitted furniture after-sales service to customers to maintain and enhance business reputation and secure repeat business

Delivers effective after-sales service to customers.

K22 K23 K24

S16 S17

B5

Duty 10 Develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, customers and other relevant stakeholders

Delivered in line with customer expectations/specifications

K25 K26 K27

S18 S19

B5 B11 B12

Duty 11 Deliver excellent customer service, realise and maintain customer expectations when working in a fitted furniture design environment

Delivered in line with customer expectations/company standards

K28 K29

S20 S21

B5 B11 B13 B14


KSBs

Knowledge

K1: Health, safety and environmental management and risk assessment for example Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), Health And Safety At Work Act (HASAWA), Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) and manual handling Back to Duty

K2: Codes of Practice, industry standards and legislation affecting fitted furniture design for example The Construction (Design Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) or The Building Regulations Part F (England & Wales) Back to Duty

K3: Basic project management including principles and techniques of good project management Back to Duty

K4: How to create and scale fitted furniture designs Back to Duty

K5: Sustainability and protecting the environment in design for example Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme Back to Duty

K6: Fitted furniture design trends, technological developments, new markets and innovation Back to Duty

K7: Ergonomics and anthropometrics in fitted furniture, particularly relating to the ageing population Back to Duty

K8: Third party products such as appliances (ovens, fridges, etc.), worktops and lighting Back to Duty

K9: Fitted furniture products and installation methods including services Back to Duty

K10: Domestic fitted furniture designs, such as kitchens, bedrooms or bathrooms Back to Duty

K11: Presentation techniques for example voice tone, positive body language and use of visuals to enhance messages Back to Duty

K12: How to communicate fitted furniture design proposals visually and in writing to customers and communication methods and how to use them effectively to reach agreement Back to Duty

K13: How to survey locations for fitted furniture installations for example measurement of the installation space and confirmation that products supplied are fit-for-purpose Back to Duty

K14: Symbols, shading, hatching, abbreviations conventions used by the organisation within specifications to convey information on components and materials Back to Duty

K15: The importance of accurate, unambiguous detailing and recording and ways of recording types of structural components to enable placement of the furniture components Back to Duty

K16: Pricing of relevant fitted furniture products and services Back to Duty

K17: How to provide quotes to customers and the records that need to be kept Back to Duty

K18: How the layout and appearance of the fitted furniture showroom influences sales Back to Duty

K19: Acceptable standards for the condition of the fitted furniture showroom Back to Duty

K20: Effective sales and closing techniques to maximise sales Back to Duty

K21: Products and services available to customers Back to Duty

K22: Effective fitted furniture after-sales support programmes for example the importance of this Back to Duty

K23: How sales support and customer care and service, can add value to customer relationships Back to Duty

K24: Techniques for addressing customer queries and problems, including how to manage difficult individuals Back to Duty

K25: Equality and diversity and how this applies in the workplace Back to Duty

K26: Why it is important to develop good working relationships with colleagues and customers Back to Duty

K27: Effective communication skills and techniques including verbal, written and physical non-verbal Back to Duty

K28: Deliver excellent customer service, realise and maintain customer expectations when working in a fitted furniture design environment Back to Duty

K29: How to realise and manage customer expectations for example statutory rights and responsibilities, consumer rights, lead times, after sales support Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Work safely at all times, completing health and safety records and reports Back to Duty

S2: Plan, organise and manage furniture design and/or installation projects Back to Duty

S3: Maintain fitted furniture sales, design and installation records required Back to Duty

S4: Record any measurements of components, sub-assemblies, products, models, equipment, layouts or facilities for example kitchen units, wardrobes, desking Back to Duty

S5: Create suitable fitted furniture designs and concepts for furniture to be installed at relevant domestic or commercial premises Back to Duty

S6: Create fitted furniture designs using scale drawings or CAD (computer aided design) Back to Duty

S7: Select appropriate material options, products and components for the fitted furniture designs to meet customer requirements Back to Duty

S8: Present fitted furniture designs to customers for example kitchens, bedrooms or bathrooms Back to Duty

S9: Produce visuals that clearly demonstrate how fitted furniture designs meets the strength, aesthetics, cost and other relevant requirements of the customer brief Back to Duty

S10: Survey locations accurately for fitted furniture installation and designs including taking measurements and other relevant data of locations Back to Duty

S11: Produce representational images which records appropriate and accurate measurements of locations for the placement of furniture components Back to Duty

S12: Determine and record site conditions for example location and identification of the existing utilities and services Back to Duty

S13: Use quoting software systems to cost and price fitted furniture designs and provide and manage quotes to customers Back to Duty

S14: Maintain the fitted furniture showrooms to acceptable standards and mirror relevant design trends Back to Duty

S15: Deliver on sales targets and enhance opportunities for further growth for examples agree next stage by listening to the customer’s requirements and vision Back to Duty

S16: Establish and maintain communications with relevant customers for example ongoing customer service and care provided Back to Duty

S17: Check fitted furniture products and services are prepared, delivered and installed to customers satisfaction Back to Duty

S18: Develop and maintain effective working relationships Back to Duty

S19: Apply effective communication techniques at all levels including written and verbal communication skills Back to Duty

S20: Deliver excellent customer service for example going beyond what the customer expects Back to Duty

S21: Realise and maintain customer expectations Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Have a safety-first attitude, ensuring the safety of self and others as appropriate Back to Duty

B2: Takes personal responsibility for meeting objectives of the team and business Back to Duty

B3: Shows integrity, aims for excellence and manages time effectively Back to Duty

B4: Thorough and accurate when accomplishing fitted furniture design tasks Back to Duty

B5: Is friendly and approachable in a fitted furniture design environment Back to Duty

B6: Demonstrates creative thinking when creating designs and concepts Back to Duty

B7: Demonstrate a positive work ethic and can-do attitude showing initiative and self-motivation Back to Duty

B8: Demonstrates professional standards of behaviours and positive personality, to dress appropriately and be aware of personal presentation Back to Duty

B9: Shows ambition, drive and is self-motivated Back to Duty

B10: Proactively seek ways of engaging customers to increase and enhance sales Back to Duty

B11: Be clear and coherent to effectively communicate accurate and complex information professionally and confidently to a diverse audience, in line with business expectations Back to Duty

B12: Sets an example to others, is fair, consistent and reliable Back to Duty

B13: Is customer focused – demonstrates behaviour that puts the customer first Back to Duty

B14: Demonstrates a commitment to delivering quality in the workplace Back to Duty


Qualifications

English and Maths


Additional details

Occupational Level:

3

Duration (months):

18

Review

Status: Approved for delivery (available for starts)
Level: 3
Reference: ST0654
Version: 1.0
Date updated: 23/08/2019
Approved for delivery: 23 August 2019
Route: Engineering and manufacturing
Typical duration to gateway: 18 months (this does not include EPA period)
Maximum funding: £7000
LARS Code: 498
EQA Provider: Ofqual
Employers involved in creating the standard: Harrison Spinks, Travis Perkins, DFS, Hypnos, Silentnight, Senator, Roundhouse Design, Burbidge, Simpsons of Greenfield Mill Ltd, Mascari

Version log

Version Change detail Earliest start date Latest start date
1.0 23/08/2019 Not set

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