Hiring and Sponsoring Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers (SOC Code 5442)

Furniture Makers and Other Craft Woodworkers, classified under SOC Code 5442, are skilled artisans who play a vital role in the manufacturing and restoration of wooden furniture and other wooden products. Their expertise encompasses a variety of tasks and techniques essential to the craft, including:

• Examining Drawings and Specifications: Assess job requirements and determine the appropriate materials needed for each project.
• Selecting and Shaping Wood: Measure, cut, and shape wood using a range of tools such as saws, chisels, planes, and woodworking machines.
• Assembling Parts: Join components using crafted joints, nails, screws, dowels, or adhesives, ensuring sturdy constructions and high-quality finishes.
• Fitting Hardware: Install locks, catches, hinges, castors, drawers, shelves, and other fittings to complete the furniture piece.
• Repairing and Maintaining Furniture: Remove, replace, or repair damaged parts, preserving the integrity and aesthetics of wooden furniture.
• Laying Wooden Floors: Measure floor areas and lay wood blocks, parquet panels, or hardwood strips with precision.
• Working with Veneers and Plywood: Match and mark out veneers for cutting and examine defects to repair imperfections in veneer or plywood sheets.

With the increasing demand for bespoke furniture and craftsmanship, there is a growing need for skilled furniture makers and woodworkers in the UK. This guide will assist HR professionals in understanding the hiring and sponsorship process for these talented craftsmen under the UK’s immigration system.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers?

SOC Code 5442 refers to furniture makers and other craft woodworkers who specialize in the creation and repair of wooden furniture and various wooden items. Their responsibilities can include:

• Examining Drawings and Specifications: Analyzing project requirements to determine materials and techniques needed.
• Selecting and Shaping Wood: Measuring, cutting, and shaping wood using a variety of tools including saws, chisels, and woodworking machines.
• Assembling Furniture: Joining parts with crafted joints, nails, screws, dowels, or adhesives, and fitting locks, catches, hinges, and other components.
• Repairing Damaged Parts: Removing, replacing, or repairing damaged sections of wooden furniture to restore its functionality and appearance.
• Laying Flooring: Measuring floor areas and installing wood blocks, parquet panels, or hardwood strips.
• Preparing Veneers: Matching and marking out veneers for cutting, as well as identifying and repairing defects in veneer or plywood sheets.

Furniture makers and craft woodworkers play a vital role in the craftsmanship and design of wooden furnishings, contributing to both the functionality and aesthetic appeal of interior spaces.

Eligibility to Hire Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers must possess a strong set of skills and demonstrable experience in woodworking. Candidates should meet the following criteria:

• Technical Skills: Proficiency in operating woodworking machinery and tools, including saws, chisels, planes, and powered hand tools.
• Blueprint Interpretation: Ability to examine and interpret drawings and specifications to ascertain job requirements and select appropriate materials.
• Joinery Techniques: Knowledge and experience in assembling furniture using crafted joints, nails, screws, dowels, or adhesives.
• Repair Skills: Capability to remove, replace, or repair damaged components of wooden furniture effectively.
• Measurement Expertise: Proficient in measuring floor areas to be covered and laying wood blocks, parquet panels, or hardwood strips accurately.
• Veneer and Plywood Handling: Skills in matching and marking veneers for cutting and identifying and repairing defects in veneer or plywood sheets.
• Education: While formal qualifications may not always be necessary, a background in woodworking or furniture design can be beneficial.

Ensure the job description aligns with SOC Code 5442 and that the candidate’s experience and skills meet the expectations for the role.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers under SOC Code 5442.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorship for a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers

Before the Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future Furniture makers and other craft woodworkerss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers

Sponsoring Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers under SOC Code 5442 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers under SOC Code 5442 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.