During Masie’s time on the AMUSF course, she has had the opportunity to develop a strong skillset in the craft of upholstery and industrial machine sewing. This includes learning traditional methods, celebrating traditional materials and techniques, as well as exploring modern practices widely used within the commercial industry.

Masie began working in the upholstery department for the large furnishing company Brown & Carrol Lesson while studying on her Stage 2 with us. Continuing to Stage 3 time was a pause from everyday life and an opportunity to learn hands-on, preparing for her flourishing career in the industry. Masie said, “The college workshop is a warm, friendly, and cheerful environment, working alongside my cherished classmates”.

Before enrolling, she had little exposure to a professional upholstery workshop. The classroom was an exciting space for Masie. “It is an environment overflowing with displays of material samples and upholstery components to be familiarised with and inspired by.  Each tutor brought their own working knowledge and professional experience to their teaching. This gave a real-world perspective that I found incredibly valuable and motivating. This included the use of sustainable material alternatives and practical advice on sourcing fabrics, tools, and sundries for independent work”.

The course structure helped Masie build not just technical ability but also gave her confidence to work independently outside class time. She has now progressed to the final stage of the course and completed many of the assessed pieces. She is continuing to learn from the amazing professional upholsterers and machinists in the work environment, and the course has given her the skills and confidence to enter. Masie said, “I felt well prepared for this opportunity, thanks to the strong foundation provided by the AMUSF training. I’m extremely grateful for everything I’ve learned, and I would highly recommend the AMUSF course to anyone looking to build a professional future in upholstery”.

Nellie is a 24-year-old upholstery student who has recently graduated from Stage 2 of the AMUSF diploma. Nellie began her studies with us in October 2024, studying on the accelerated 2-day-a-week course to complete stages 1 and 2 in one academic year. Nellie said, “I first heard about this course when I graduated from university and wanted to become an upholsterer. I had visited several different upholstery companies in my local area and was told to go study before coming back”.

Nellie was, however, fortunate to find a job working for a curtain and blind maker, which she says she loved, and working in a workshop environment such as that fuelled her desire to continue learning about different types of furniture, upholstery and soft furnishings.  Nellie arrived on the AMUSF diploma course with confidence in her approach to working with textiles and using industrial sewing machines, but the world of traditional upholstery represented a very new set of challenges to learn, as she had only seen modern upholstery before.

The course gave Nellie the confidence and skills to apply for a job as a trainee upholsterer at the end of the Stage 2 AMUSF diploma course. The training she had received over the past year gave her an insight into what she could expect in a job, including workshop safety and etiquette, the knowledge to be able to complete tasks, and the confidence to ask questions when she is unsure. Nellie’s tutor has remarked on her skills development over the year and also her neat upholstery work. Nellie said: “This course has helped me branch out into other areas of the furniture and interiors industry and solidified my interest in upholstered furniture”.

After careful consideration and research, Charlotte decided to study the AMUSF course in both traditional and modern upholstery. From an art background, Charlotte took the plunge to learn a brand-new skill, which would hopefully develop into a career. Charlotte said, “it was the best decision I’ve made and one which I have never regretted”. Completing all stages of the Diploma course gave her a core understanding of the skills and processes of upholstery – from the basics of using tools to the hands-on experience to understand when things feel and look correct. After completing the course, Charlotte progressed directly into a shared upholstery workshop and began her career as a self-employed upholsterer, building experience and clients along the way.

She currently has a fantastic array of private clients, architects, interior designers, and furniture dealers and has been able to advise and design furniture concepts with fabricators for public spaces such as the Science Gallery London, the Design Museum, and the Young V&A.

The teaching team had followed Charlotte progress, along with her conscientious approach to her upholstery work, in 2021 we had the pleasure of welcoming Charlotte on to the team to teach the AMUSF Diploma, Charlotte shared with us “Getting the opportunity to share the craft of upholstery is an absolute joy and has enabled me to hone my craft unexpectedly. Teaching the next generation of budding upholsterers gives me confidence in the craft and its long future”. We are delighted to have Charlotte as part of the upholstery teaching team here at ELFI and know that the students will benefit from her wide experience in the industry and now as an experienced teacher.

Tom Wilkinson-Dix, a graduate of the prestigious Rycotewood Furniture Centre, is a shining example of how talent, dedication, and opportunity can come together to shape a successful career in the furniture-making industry.

Shortly after completing his studies, Tom was nominated by The Furniture Makers’ Company for a place on a specialist short course during the London International Woodworking Festival, hosted at LDE UTC. The course, sponsored by Lowfat Roubo, was created to support early-career makers transitioning from education into industry.

The five-day intensive focused on traditional saw sharpening and maintenance techniques, and was led by none other than Mark Harrell, founder of Bad Axe Tool Works—a world-renowned manufacturer of premium hand saws. Under Mark’s expert guidance, Tom not only learned to maintain and sharpen saws by hand, but also constructed his own custom hand saw—a true rite of passage for any aspiring woodworker.

Tom’s professionalism, curiosity, and exceptional attention to detail left a lasting impression on the team at LDE. So much so, that he was offered a position in the college’s technician department shortly after completing the course.

Now, just a year later, Tom is preparing to take on a new challenge. From September 2025, he will begin training to teach the new T Level in Craft & Design (Furniture) at LDE. His journey—from student to skilled maker, and now educator—is a testament to what’s possible with the right support and opportunities.

Tom’s story highlights the importance of hands-on learning, mentorship, and industry collaboration in shaping the next generation of designers and makers. We’re thrilled to have him on the team and look forward to seeing the impact he’ll make as he begins this new chapter.

As part of their T Level in Craft & Design (Furniture) at LDE UTC, learners Ausrine, Emilly, and Marinela have taken their first steps into industry with a high-impact work placement alongside Hill Partnership—one of the UK’s leading construction companies.

Their placement, based on a live construction site in Dagenham, has given the learners a unique insight into the fast-paced, highly professional world of large-scale residential development. The site, currently undertaking the installation of around 500 kitchens, provided the perfect environment for the students to put their developing carpentry skills to the test.

Before setting foot on site, all three learners successfully completed their Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) training—achieving a 100% score on the final exam. This vital qualification ensured they understood key principles of site safety, professionalism, and risk management from the outset.

Once inducted, the students joined the carpentry and fit-out team, where they were able to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world context. Working alongside experienced tradespeople, they carried out meaningful tasks that reflected industry-standard practices, gaining valuable insights into time management, installation sequencing, and the precision required for high-volume cabinet fitting.

“It was quite daunting at first being on such a big site,” said Emilly, one of the T Level learners, “but once we got started, it felt amazing to actually use our skills for real. I’ve learned so much by watching the team and getting involved.”

Their site manager, Sam Luxton, commented on the students’ attitude and performance:

“We’ve been really impressed by how quickly the students adapted. They’ve shown great focus and professionalism and were genuinely interested in learning. It’s refreshing to see young people so engaged and willing to take on new challenges.”

This experience not only boosted their confidence and technical ability but also reinforced the importance of teamwork, communication, and adaptability on a professional site. Their placement exemplifies how the T Level model connects technical learning with real employer engagement, building the foundations for a successful career in design and construction.

Cloe, a dedicated student on the T Level Craft & Design (Furniture) course at LDE UTC, joined the programme with a clear ambition: to explore design within the wider creative industry and understand how creative ideas become real-world products.

What sets the T Level apart is its fully rounded curriculum. In addition to developing technical design and making skills, learners also explore business strategy, client needs, and financial planning—skills essential across all design sectors.

Cloe took full advantage of the course’s flexible work placement element by securing her own position with world-renowned jewellery house Graff, based in London. During her placement, she gained first-hand experience in the jewellery design process, working on industry-standard CAD platforms used to model high-value, bespoke pieces.

Though furniture and fine jewellery may seem worlds apart, Cloe quickly recognised the shared principles between the two: