Commercial Upholsterer Contractor — Reading and the M4 Corridor

A national commercial furniture services business is looking for a self-employed Commercial Upholsterer to join its contractor network covering Reading and the M4 Corridor, working on contract and commercial upholstery projects on an ongoing, self-employed basis.

The M4 corridor through Berkshire is lined with business parks, corporate offices and hotels, and Reading sits right in the middle of it. Green Park and the business areas near the motorway junctions hold large office campuses, while the town centre and riverside have a dense spread of restaurants and bars. Bracknell and Wokingham add modern office space and leisure, and Maidenhead offers a mix of offices and Thames-side hospitality. Henley-on-Thames is well known for riverside pubs and hotels, and Newbury anchors the western end along the A4 and M4.

Area covered: Reading, Wokingham, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Henley-on-Thames and Newbury. Work is booked in blocks around Reading (RG1 1AF), with the occasional project further afield where hotel costs and any congestion charges are covered by the client.

This suits an established self-employed upholsterer with their own van, tools and portable sewing machine, who can cut and machine sew on site and wants a regular flow of well-paid commercial work alongside their own customers.

What is on offer

This is not a temporary role. It is ongoing, regular self-employed contract work, and 7 of the 13 contractors we have placed with the client are still working with them today.

• Competitive day rates, with enhanced rates for certain types of work (rates discussed on application, and negotiable)
• All expenses paid on top of your day rate, including materials and parking
• Ongoing, regular work, planned in blocks so you can plan ahead and fit in your own private work (or work more days for the client)
• Flexible days that fit in between your own jobs and contracts
• Invoices paid within 10 days, usually within 5 to 7 working days
• Mostly local work; on the occasional job further afield, your overnight stay, breakfast and evening meal are covered (always with advance notice)

What you'll be doing

• Commercial and contract upholstery on site across Reading, Wokingham, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Henley-on-Thames and Newbury: hospitality seating, fixed seating, booths, banquettes and contract furniture
• Re-covering, repairing and restoring upholstered furniture in commercial premises
• Cutting and machine sewing covers on site from your own sewing machine
• Working to a schedule agreed with the client's operations team and reporting on completed work

What you'll need

• Time-served upholsterer who can re-cover and repair commercial seating: banquettes, booths, fixed seating, chairs and stools
• Ability to cut and machine sew on site, this is essential (an upholsterer who sews, not a machinist only)
• Button back, deep buttoning and fluting experience is a strong advantage
• Your own van, full tool kit and portable sewing machine
• Public liability insurance (minimum £10 million) or willingness to arrange it
• Full UK driving licence and a professional, reliable approach on client sites
• Based within a realistic travel distance of Reading

Ready to apply?

If you are a self-employed Commercial Upholsterer around Reading with your own van, tools and sewing machine, and you would like a dependable stream of ongoing contract work, get in touch today.

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Closing date: 10 December 2026

Updated: 10 November 2026

To apply or find out more, contact The Talent Branch on 07792 797476 or carlos@thetalentbranch.com

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