A significant milestone for craft training at LDE UTC: ELFI is now listed by Heritage Crafts as a training provider for the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF) Upholstery Diploma.
East London Furniture Institute (ELFI) delivers the AMUSF Upholstery Diploma, providing professional, heritage-focused training in traditional upholstery techniques. Led by Rachael South, a third-generation upholsterer, the course is rooted in hands-on making, historical methods and deep material knowledge, supporting the preservation of specialist craft skills.
This recognition strengthens an important national effort to safeguard specialist skills in upholstery and soft furnishings, while creating clear, respected pathways for young people entering the heritage craft sector.
Heritage Crafts plays a vital role in supporting traditional skills across the UK, championing their cultural value and ensuring that the highest standards of heritage craft practice are passed from one generation to the next.
At LDE UTC, we share these goals. With the introduction of our T Level Craft & Design pathway, including an upholstery specialism, we are working to rebuild interest in heritage craft careers among young people and ensure that these skills remain visible, valued and accessible.
Heritage Crafts’ values of equity, collaboration, sustainability and continual learning reflect the approach we take in technical and creative education: removing barriers to participation, connecting learners with industry expertise, and supporting progression into meaningful skilled work.
To learn more about the work Heritage Crafts is doing to support endangered skills across the UK, and to explore the crafts currently at risk, visit https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/
Interested in T Level Craft & Design? We currently offer furniture making and upholstery pathways. Visit the ELFI website where you can explore more about this specialist route into the creative industries.
If you are a professional maker, employer or organisation working within the craft and creative industries and would like to support the next generation through training, placements or collaboration, we would love to hear from you.
Please get in touch:
Candice Henry
Head of Strategic Partnerships, Marketing & Communications
[email protected]
