Upholstery

Upholsterers can be involved in either factory work, upholstering complete items or particular parts like chair or sofa arms, or craft work on individual pieces of new furniture or renovation or re-upholstery of old or antique furniture. They also re-upholster furniture, which would involve removing old upholstery and repairing the frame before re-upholstery.

Day-to-day tasks would typically include: planning the work, advising on fabrics and estimating costs; preparing patterns and templates; cutting out fabric; fixing webbing and springs; covering frames with padding and fabric using stitching, staples, tacks or glue; making cushions; adding trimmings such as piping, fringing and buttons.  

Starting salaries can be around £12,500 a year. Experienced upholsterers can earn from £15,000 to around £25,000 a year.

Earnings for self-employed upholsterers vary depending on the amount of work they have.

You would usually need relevant practical skills and experience if you want to find work in production upholstery. You would then be trained on the job. You may find one of the following qualifications useful as an introduction before looking for work: NVQ Level 1 in Supporting the Production of Furniture and Furnishings; City & Guilds Certificate in Furniture Production levels 1to 3.

If you want to be self-employed or work in a craft workshop, you would need to learn the relevant practical skills before starting. Relevant courses include: City & Guilds Certificate in Design and Craft at levels 1 to 3 (7722, 7822 and 7922); City & Guilds Certificate and Diploma in Creative Techniques at levels 1 to 3 (7111, 7112, 7113).

At higher education level, upholstery is part of HND, foundation degree and degree courses in furniture-related subjects such as furniture making, furniture restoration, furniture production and furniture design. If you are planning to study at this level you should check with colleges and universities for their entry requirements, as these can vary.

You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. To find out more about Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.