Upholstery (Furniture) Apprentice

About the Opportunity

As an apprentice upholsterer, you’ll be trained by a master craftsman with over 40 years of experience, gaining hands-on knowledge from one of New Zealand’s most respected professionals. Every day will bring a new challenge—from restoring antique furniture to crafting custom pieces from scratch. You'll learn essential upholstery techniques including stripping furniture, making patterns, cutting and sewing fabric, and carrying out repairs, recoveries, and full restorations. Working with New Zealand’s leading leather furniture specialists, you'll develop expertise in handling and caring for various types of leather, and master advanced skills like deep-buttoning. Your training will also expand beyond upholstery, introducing you to the basics of woodwork and auto-trimming—helping you build a versatile skill set and discover your passion in a specialist area of the trade.

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Key Responsibilities:

- Strip client’s furniture in preparation for restoration

- Measure, cut and sew covers using sewing machines and overlockers

- Prepare and upholster a variety of furniture frames

- Use power tools, nail guns, staple guns and hand tools

- Repair foundations such as webbing frames and mounting springs in seats

- Apply studs, fittings, mechanisms and legs to chairs and sofas or ottomans and headboards

- Repair/restore car interiors, such as hood-linings, door cards and seats

- Keep a clean, tidy and safe workspace

- Assist with pickups and deliveries

- Customer service (not mandatory)

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About You

The successful applicant will have:

- A positive can-do attitude

- An eagerness to learn

- Fit, healthy and enthusiastic (able to lift 25kg)

- Ability to work to deadlines

- Attention to detail with good time keeping skills

- Ability to follow and retain instructions

- Good communication skills both written and verbal

- Good numeracy skills

- Self-motivated, reliable and honest team player

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Advantageous but not essential:

- NZ class 1 driver’s license and be able to drive a manual vehicle

- Wood work and/or sewing experience

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Benefits:

- Training on all processes and equipment towards a qualification under the NZQA framework

- Career progression opportunities

- A great team culture

- Work-life balance