Beyond The Factory Floor

Recently, upholstery apprentice Cerys was given the opportunity to step beyond her usual role and join the Allermuir marketing team on a photoshoot helping to bring the story of the recent collaboration with Kvadrat to life.

The collaboration celebrated every stage of the journey, from locally sourced British wool and woven textile through to finished furniture and gave Cerys a unique opportunity to see how her upholstery skills contribute to a much bigger story.

From making to marketing

Cerys’ day-to-day apprenticeship is centred on the practical skills of upholstery and manufacturing. The photoshoot offered a different perspective, showing her what happens once a product leaves the factory and how its story is communicated to customers and audiences.

Working alongside the marketing team, Cerys helped create social content that was shared across Allermuir’s digital platforms. The resulting post went on to achieve some of the company’s strongest reach and engagement, making the experience particularly rewarding.

For an apprentice, seeing this connection between manufacturing and marketing can be invaluable. It helped Cerys understand that the work carried out on the factory floor doesn’t simply stop when a piece of furniture is completed. The craftsmanship, materials and attention to detail all become part of the story that brings the product to life.

Learning from every side of the business

Being involved in the photoshoot also gave Cerys an insight into a side of the business she wouldn’t normally experience.

It showed how production, design and marketing work together and how different teams contribute to taking an idea from material to finished product and, ultimately, into the hands of the customer.

For Cerys, this meant gaining a greater appreciation of the journey behind Clo, while also seeing where her own developing skills fit into that process.

It was a chance to learn from a different team, experience a new working environment and understand how the technical craft of upholstery connects with the wider furniture industry.

Investing in the future of British manufacturing 

Supporting apprentices is about more than developing practical skills. It is about giving the next generation a rounded understanding of the industry and the confidence to see where their craft can take them.

Cerys’ experience on the Clo photoshoot is a great example of that approach. By opening up opportunities beyond the factory floor, we can help apprentices understand the value of their work, discover different areas of the business and see the role they play in a much bigger journey.

From fleece to fabric, and from craftsmanship to comfort, every stage matters.

And by giving the next generation the opportunity to experience that journey for themselves, we can help ensure that the future of British manufacturing remains in skilled and passionate hands.