Beyond the factory floor

Recently, upholstery apprentice Cerys had the opportunity to spend the day with the Allermuir marketing team, helping bring a recent collaboration with Kvadrat to life through a photoshoot.

The collaboration explored the journey from locally sourced British wool and woven textile through to finished furniture, giving Cerys the opportunity to see how the skills she is developing contribute to the finished product.

As part of her apprenticeship, Cerys spends her time developing the practical skills needed to become a skilled upholsterer. Day-to-day, that means focusing on craftsmanship, attention to detail and learning the techniques that ensure every product is finished to the highest standard. The photoshoot offered a different perspective, showing what happens once a product leaves the factory and how it is presented to customers.

Working alongside the Allermuir marketing team, Cerys helped create content for the brand's social channels and gained first-hand experience of a side of the business she wouldn't normally encounter. It also gave her the chance to learn from a different team, experience a new working environment and gain a broader understanding of the process behind the products she helps create.

For many apprentices, the focus is naturally on mastering the practical elements of their role. While those technical skills remain at the heart of any apprenticeship, understanding the wider process can be equally valuable. Every product is the result of many different disciplines working together, from design and material selection through to manufacturing, photography, marketing and customer engagement.

Seeing those connections first-hand helps bring the bigger picture into focus. It demonstrates how each stage of the process contributes to the finished product and highlights the importance of collaboration between teams. For apprentices, it can provide a greater appreciation of the work that takes place beyond their immediate role and help them understand how their contribution fits into the wider business.

The experience also reinforced the importance of the materials and craftsmanship that sit behind every piece of furniture. The Kvadrat collaboration showcased not only the quality of the finished product, but also the journey of the materials themselves, from British wool through to the upholstery techniques used to transform them into furniture.

For Cerys, seeing the completed journey first-hand provided a greater appreciation of the work that takes place both before and after the upholstery process. It highlighted the value of collaboration and offered insight into how craftsmanship and quality continue to play a role long after a product has left the factory.