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 textiles to finished furniture, giving Cerys the opportunity to see how the skills she is developing contribute to the final 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 media channels and gained firsthand experience of a side of the business she would not normally encounter. It also gave her the chance to learn from a different team, experience a new work 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 aspects of their role. While those technical skills remain at the heart of any apprenticeship, understanding the broader process can be equally valuable. Every product is the result of many different disciplines working together, from design and material selection to manufacturing, photography, marketing, and customer engagement.
Seeing those connections firsthand helps bring the bigger picture into focus. It demonstrates how each stage of the process contributes to the final 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 broader business.
The experience also reinforced the importance of the materials and craftsmanship 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 to the upholstery techniques used to transform them into furniture.
For Cerys, seeing the completed journey firsthand 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.
