Advanced Upholsterer Apprenticeship - North Lancs Training Group

Course Overview

An Advanced Upholster produces upholstered furniture by preparing and cutting fabrics, creating/repairing frames and joints, selecting and applying suspensions and upholstering frames. An Advanced Upholsterer is a skilled and methodical individual capable of creating ergonomic and comfortable furniture using traditional or modern techniques, materials and fabrics to produce aesthetically pleasing and fit for purpose consumer products.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a range of colleagues including production/manufacturing managers, quality technicians, production leaders, designers and product developers. Advanced Upholsterers will work alone or within small teams with other upholsterers and will be responsible for liaising with colleagues, suppliers and customers. They tend to work in small craft workshops but can also work in larger factories.

Option 1: A Traditional Upholsterer is a skilled craft person who creates individual pieces of new furniture or renovates or re-upholsters old or antique furniture they also reupholster new furniture using traditional methods.

Option 2: An Advanced Modern Upholsterer is a skilled person who understands frame construction, adds padding, springs and coverings to furniture such as chairs and sofas. They understand ergonomics and aesthetics required to apply methodically and accurately a wide range of modern upholstery techniques, materials and fabrics, to produce furniture that meets specification and is fit for purpose.

Typical job titles include:
• Upholsterer
• Traditional Upholsterer
• Furniture Upholsterer
• Upholstery Technician
• Automotive Upholsterer
• Marine Upholsterer
• Development Upholsterer

The Content

Advanced Upholsterers will develop the following skills, knowledge and behaviours:

Skills
• Work safely at all times
• Prepare/sew fabric components using advanced methods
• Create templates, lay and cut fabric components
• Evaluate and repair frames
• Identify, mark and resolve faults in leather
• Quality assure products
• Manage customer expectations
• Apply basic project management techniques
• Apply effective communication techniques at all levels
• Manage resources effectively
• Define materials, construction methods and product specs
• Select and fix different types of filling materials
• Select and apply materials for suspensions
• Apply traditional techniques, materials and fabrics
• Strip back to frames using appropriate tools and methods
• Provide accurate estimates
• Identify the process to finish/repair show wood frames
• Upholster products using advanced modern methods
• Use power tools and machinery
• Produce & assemble bespoke pieces of furniture
• Design and create bespoke pieces of furniture
• Define manufacturing processes
• Set timescales and costings for furniture to be produced
• Provide accurate estimates
• Manage self and others
• Apply coaching, mentoring and team development techniques
• Apply basic conflict management skills

Knowledge
• Health, safety and environmental management
• Fabric characteristics,
• Create templates, lay, cut, prepare and sew fabric components
• Upholstery frame construction and repair techniques
• Mark and resolve leather faults
• Upholstery industry specific regulations, legislation and standards
• Manage customer expectations
• Basic project management
• Effective communication skills
• Manage resources
• Industry materials
• Modern and traditional manufacturing methods
• Ergonomic and aesthetic design principles
• Different types of filling materials
• Styles, periods and iconic designers from pre-20th Century
• Traditional upholstery methods
• Create, renovate or restore furniture pieces
• Strip back old/antique upholstery
• Budgeting
• Finish show wood frames
• Modern upholstery techniques
• Modern methods of bespoke furniture production/assembly
• History of upholstered furniture
• Design bespoke furniture using modern methods
• Materials, construction methods and product specifications
• Limitations relating to process and end uses
• Provide estimates to customers
• Equality and diversity and how this applies in the workplace
• Conflict management

Behaviours
• Safety-first attitude
• Customer focused
• Committed to achieving and maintaining quality standards
• Calm and reasonable approach
• Enthusiastic, motivated and resilient
• Thorough and accurate
• Adheres to company values
• Be reflective on skills, knowledge and behaviours
• Confident in ability

Functional Skills in English and Maths
Where an Advanced Upholsterer has not already achieved Level 2 English and Maths, they must do so before taking the End Point Assessment.

The Assessment

Learners will need to undertake an End Point Assessment which consists of the following 3 elements:
• Multiple choice test
• Observation with questions
• Professional discussion