<!-- Introduction --><div class="feature-text"><h2> Your new role</h2><p><strong>About Us:</strong></p><p>It takes a whole lot of passion to be at the centre of what makes a house feel like home — and that’s just what we do at DFS.&nbsp;We’re the leading sofa retail specialist in the UK, helping people find a comfy seat on their great quality sofas since 1969.</p><p><strong>About the role:</strong></p><p>The Upholstery Trainer is responsible for delivering high-quality training and coaching to new and existing upholstery colleagues, ensuring they develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence required to meet quality, productivity, and safety standards.&nbsp;The role supports the continuous development of the upholstery team through practical instruction, performance monitoring, and ongoing skills development.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Here’s what we offer:</strong></p><p>The Highlights</p><ul><li><p>Competitive Pay &amp; Work-Life Balance: With an yearly salary of £38k &nbsp;and a reliable schedule, leading to a strong annual earning potential including uncapped commission.</p></li><li><p>Working hours :40 per week &nbsp;- flexibility to cover early and late shifts&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>Growth and Training: Learn new skills and develop your career with us.</p></li></ul><p><strong>There’s more…</strong></p><ul><li><p>Generous holiday allowance&nbsp;– the time you need to rest and relax and the longer you’re with us, the more time you’ll get. Opportunity to purchase additional holidays each year.</p></li><li><p>Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave:&nbsp;to give you the time you need to settle in with your new family member.</p></li><li><p>Discounts: Get 30% off DFS and Sofology products for yourself, plus discounts for friends and family – and savings at big brands like Sainsbury’s, ASOS, and IKEA.</p></li><li><p>Wellbeing Perks:&nbsp;Access healthcare services, an Employee Assistance Programme, and discounted gym memberships.</p></li><li><p>Pension and Savings:&nbsp;Join our Group Pension and Sharesave schemes.</p></li><li><p>Life Assurance &amp; Sick Pay: Peace of mind with Life Assurance and Company Sick Pay.</p></li></ul><p><strong>What you'll be doing:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Identifying &nbsp;the skills, knowledge, and competencies required at each stage of the upholstery process, including correct preparation and assembly techniques.</p></li><li><p>Assessing &nbsp;and evaluating current colleague skill levels, identifying strengths, development needs, and training requirements across all upholstery operations.</p></li><li><p>Identifying &nbsp;skill shortages within the workforce and developing targeted training plans to address capability gaps.</p></li><li><p>Delivering structured, hands-on training to ensure colleagues achieve and maintain the required standards of quality, workmanship, and productivity.</p></li><li><p>Coaching &nbsp;and mentoring colleagues on best-practice upholstery techniques, promoting consistency and attention to detail.</p></li><li><p>Working closely with the Product Development and Manufacturing teams to support new model introductions, ensuring training materials and delivery are aligned to new product requirements.</p></li><li><p>Developing and implementing training programmes that increase operational flexibility by enabling colleagues to work competently across multiple upholstery processes.</p></li><li><p>Supporting succession planning and workforce development by broadening skills and increasing cross-functional capability.</p></li><li><p>Accelerating &nbsp;colleague development through effective training provision, reducing the time taken for individuals to achieve full competency.</p></li><li><p>Monitoring training effectiveness through competency assessments, quality measures, and performance reviews, adapting training programmes where required.</p></li><li><p>Promoting a culture of continuous learning, quality excellence, and continuous improvement throughout the upholstery operation.</p></li><li><p>Ensuring &nbsp;all training activities are delivered in accordance with company policies, product specifications, and Health &amp; Safety requirements.</p></li></ul><p><strong>This role is for you if you have</strong></p><ul><li><p>Proven experience within an upholstery manufacturing environment, with a strong understanding of upholstery techniques, materials, and processes.</p></li><li><p>Demonstrable experience across multiple stages of upholstery, including preparation, assembly, fitting, and finishing.</p></li><li><p>Experience training, coaching, mentoring, or developing colleagues in a production or manufacturing setting.</p></li><li><p>Experience conducting skills assessments and identifying development needs within a workforce.</p></li><li><p>Experience supporting new product introductions or process changes is desirable.</p></li><li><p>Previous experience working within a quality-focused manufacturing environment.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Skills ,knowledge &amp; Personal Attributes&nbsp;</strong></p><ul><li><p>Strong technical knowledge of upholstery methods, tools, equipment, and best practices.</p></li><li><p>Ability to identify skill gaps and develop effective training plans to improve capability and performance.</p></li><li><p>Excellent coaching and mentoring skills, with the ability to adapt training methods to suit different learning styles.</p></li><li><p>Strong understanding of quality standards and the ability to instil a right-first-time approach.</p></li><li><p>Ability to interpret product specifications, technical drawings, and manufacturing instructions.</p></li><li><p>Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and address performance or training issues.</p></li><li><p>Good organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple training priorities effectively.</p></li><li><p>Competent in maintaining training records, competency assessments, and development plans.</p></li><li><p>Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships across all levels of the business.</p></li><li><p>Passionate about developing others and helping colleagues reach their full potential.</p></li><li><p>Patient, approachable, and supportive, with a positive attitude towards coaching and continuous improvement.</p></li><li><p>Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and take ownership of training initiatives.</p></li><li><p>Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality workmanship.</p></li><li><p>Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to respond to changing business and production requirements.</p></li><li><p>Committed to promoting a safe working environment and ensuring compliance with Health &amp; Safety standards.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Qualifications(Desirable)&nbsp;</strong></p><ul><li><p>Recognised qualification in Training, Learning &amp; Development, Coaching, or a related discipline.</p></li><li><p>Vocational qualification in Upholstery, Furniture Manufacturing, or a relevant trade.</p></li><li><p>Train the Trainer qualification or equivalent experience in delivering workplace training.</p></li><li><p>Health &amp; Safety qualification or experience within a manufacturing environment.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Our Commitment to Inclusion:</strong></p><p>We’re committed to a culture where everyone feels welcome, valued, and can thrive at work. We celebrate diverse voices, champion inclusion, and support each other through our growing colleague networks.&nbsp;We invest in partnerships that drive change, from &nbsp;introducing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and supporting Doncaster Pride, to partnering with Carers UK and developing leaders with Diversity in Retail.</p><p>We're proud to be an equal opportunities employer, committed to building a workplace that reflects the communities we serve. So, if your experience doesn't quite match the specification, we'd still really love to hear from you.</p><p>(All roles are subject to satisfactory DBS checks.)</p></div><!-- Apply Button --><a href="https://apply.dfsgroup.co.uk/members/?j=364&amp;lang=en&amp;" class="btn btn-apply apply_bottom">Apply<i class="fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a>