В семейной мастерской по обивке мебели в Харрогейте начал обучение новый ученик

A Harrogate family business whose furniture features in luxury television lottery prize houses is celebrating a milestone closer to home: welcoming the next generation into its workshop. Riley Skinner began his upholstery apprenticeship at Reeves Upholstery House today, 1 September, joining his father, workshop head Mark Skinner, and his stepmother, Michaela Reeves. The family-run workshop, which has roots stretching back to 1979, has spent the last four years creating high-end upholstered furniture for major televised luxury lottery-house projects. Behind the glamorous interiors seen by national audiences is a dedicated local team built on decades of traditional craftsmanship. Now, Riley is beginning his own journey in the workshop, with the long-term ambition of becoming a master upholsterer like Michaela’s late father, Ken Reeves. Working directly alongside his father and the experienced Reeves team, Riley will learn the meticulous craft behind restoring much-loved furniture and creating bespoke pieces. The apprenticeship marks the start of a career built on practical skills, patience, and attention to detail. For Michaela and Mark, the milestone represents a unique opportunity to pass down both technical knowledge and a deep pride in manual workmanship. Michaela Reeves: People might recognise our furniture from the beautiful lottery houses they see on television, but what they don’t always realise is that it comes from a family workshop here in Harrogate. We’re incredibly proud of those projects, but seeing Riley start his apprenticeship alongside his dad and me is special in a completely different way. My late dad, Ken, was a master upholsterer, and the care and pride he put into his work are things we want to pass on. There are no shortcuts to learning a trade like this. Riley is starting from the beginning, learning the skills properly and working towards becoming a master of the craft in his own right. I think Dad would have been so proud to see the next generation picking up the tools. For us, this isn’t simply about keeping a business going — it’s about keeping the knowledge, craftsmanship and family tradition alive. Alongside its high-profile lottery contracts, Reeves Upholstery House continues to provide domestic and commercial reupholstery services, alongside creating bespoke furniture, headboards, and custom cushions. Riley’s first day marks a new chapter for the local business: an apprentice learning his trade beside his family, in a traditional workshop whose craftsmanship reaches far beyond Harrogate.