Our facilities include two linked workshops. The main workshop serves as a dedicated teaching space with student benches, while the second houses our bespoke benches, and tutor’s benches.

We restrict student numbers to ensure as much personal tuition as possible.  We provide each student with their own bench workspace, storage, and stool, giving everyone their own space to work on their projects.  There are also facilities for secure tool storage.

We are fully equipped with all the standard wood working machines and hand power tools you would expect to find in a small to medium sized professional workshop. All machines meet current Health and Safety regulations and are fully extracted and maintained.

Our second workshop houses additional machinery, including our CNC machine, which is available for student projects.

On our full-time course, after completing three initial set projects, designed to ensure all essential hand, tool, and machining skills are covered, you are encouraged to make furniture to your own designs. Our bespoke courses also allow you to develop a specific design or furniture piece with tuition and project plans tailored to your interests and abilities.

Jane, the principal tutor, not only gives theory lessons on the key design principles, such as aesthetics, proportions, and ergonomics, but she is also on hand to inspire our students, equipping them with the necessary skills to develop their own ‘design identity’.

Lessons and tutorials cover a broad spectrum of topics from timber technology to business studies. In pairs or small groups, they are referenced to your needs. A full list of the topics covered can be found under the ‘course content’ section of the one year course page.

‘Is it best to design with pencil and sketch book or CAD?’ The short answer is both. We encourage you to use the appropriate medium and thus develop a varied range of skills.

We teach Auto-CAD, Rhino and Sketch up. From simple working drawings through to the potential of digital technology e.g. CNC machining or laser cutting veneers. This support is available during the entire length of the course.

All design work undertaken by Williams and Cleal starts with pencil sketching. Students are therefore encouraged to keep sketch books. We feel this is one of the best ways to help students develop their creative side, and explore all avenues of design.

Support and practical guidance is on hand in this area. Sessions will not only cover how to draw, but will also encourage students to explore and develop their own unique style. This improves the ability to 'see', critique, and share ideas with others. It will also give you the ability to produce presentation drawings for both yourself and potential clients.