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Upholsterer
Upholsterers pad, cover and re-cover furniture with materials like leather, suede or cotton.
Average salary (a year)
£15000
Starter
£30000
Experienced
Typical hours (a week)
43.0 to 45.0 hours
a week
Work Hours
freelance / self-employed
managing your own hours
How to become
Explore the different ways to get into this role
You can get into this job through:a college course; an apprenticeship; working towards this role; specialist courses run by professional bodies
College
You could take a college course, like a
Level 2 Certificate in Upholstery, Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Furnishings - Traditional Upholstery, Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Furnishings - Modern Upholstery
Courses like these may be useful when looking for a trainee upholsterer job with a company.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
More Information
equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
search for courses|/find-a-course
Apprenticeship
You could do a furniture manufacturer intermediate apprenticeship or upholsterer advanced apprenticeship.
These typically take 24 months to complete as a mix of learning in the workplace and off-the-job study.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More Information
equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Work
You may be able to get work as a trainee upholsterer, without any experience. You would then do qualifications and get experience on the job.
Other Routes
You can train for upholstery qualifications with the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers. These may be useful when looking for a job or help if you're looking to set up your own business.
More Information
Professional And Industry Bodies
What it takes
Find out what skills you’ll use in this role
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
    To be thorough and pay attention to detail
    The ability to work well with your hands
    The ability to use your initiative
    To be flexible and open to change
    Knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
    Design skills and knowledge
    The ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
    The ability to work well with others
Digital Skills Level
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
What you will do
Discover the day-to-day tasks you’ll do in this role
Day to day tasks
In this job you could
plan work, advise on fabrics and estimate costs, prepare patterns and templates, cut fabric to correct measurements, fix webbing and springs, cover furniture frames with padding and fabric, using stitching, staples, tacks or glue, make soft furnishings like cushions, add trimmings like piping, fringing and buttons, remove old upholstery and repair frames before re-upholstering
Working environment
You could work in a workshop, in a factory, at a client's business or at a client's home.
Your working environment may be physically demanding.
Career Path & Progression
Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities
With experience, you could move into a supervisory or management position.
You could specialise in re-upholstering antique furniture or work in interior design.
You could become self-employed and set up your own upholstery business.
You could teach your upholstery skills to apprentices and students in further education.
Find out more about teaching in further education from Teach in further education.
Job profile data provided by The National Careers Service.
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