The Background
The question 'Why is the Worshipful Company involved with this?'
is often asked. The answer is that as a totally non-political body but
one with some prestige and with its membership drawn from every
sector of the furniture industry, it is uniquely placed to take and
nurture an initiative of this sort. It will be evident, on reflection, that
the industry has no other organisation that could have achieved the
creation of such a group.
The industry must be grateful to Ray Leigh (Master 1994 and one
time Managing Director of Gordon Russell Ltd) and to his successor
as Chairman of the Confederation, Martin Jourdan (Master 1991
and one time Chairman of Cornwell Parker plc) for the time, thought
and energy that both have given to the historical step which the
formation of the BFC represents.
The genesis of the Furniture Industry Strategy Group, the progenitor
of the British Furniture Confederation, was the decision by Ray Leigh
MBE, when he was Master of the Company, to do something to bring
the various trade associations representing different sectors of the
industry together. It had been realised that government, particularly
the then Department of Trade and Industry, was much more likely
to listen to what the industry had to say if it spoke with one voice.
Indeed the Department had made clear that a single body had to be
formed if any government money was to be given towards furniture
industry initiatives in the field of exports and elsewhere. Various
attempts to bring the industry together, to form an 'association of
associations', were trialled in the 1990s but for one reason or another
they foundered.
Martin Jourdan took over as Chairman of the FISG in 2003. It became
clear that to attempt to produce a government sponsored strategy
for the furniture industry was not going to work but the need to raise
the profile of the industry was urgent in the face of declining interest
in the sector from the DTI, (now renamed BERR).
The first step was to form the All Party Parliamentary Furniture
Group; the second was to change the name to The British Furniture
Confederation and to reorganize the Board to include only the
Directors of the trade associations. Details of the BFC can be found
on their website. The BFC is an effective
lobby group for the industry.
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What does the Confederation do?
- Funding
Seeks funding for the furniture and bed industry
- Lobbying
Act as the collective voice of the industry, representing common
views and needs to UK government ad the EU.
- Promotion
Proactively promote UK manufacturers nationally and
internationally, and increase the visibility of the high value added
manufacturing culture.
- Legislation And Regulation
Influence the development and use of policies and regulations
inline with the views and needs of members.
- Skills, Training And Education
Promote and facilitate skills, training and education and raise
awareness of career opportunities in the furniture industry.
What does the Confederation not do?
- Commercial
There will be no involvement in any commercial aspect of the
industry, such as wage negotiation or the promotion of the
interests of a particular Member or company.
- Sector Interests
The activities of the Confederation will neither favour nor
disadvantage any sector of the industry.
- Political
The Confederation will not engage in political activities except
through its All Party Group of MPs (see below).
Member Organisations
- AMUSF (The Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft
Furnishers)
- BCFA/OFFMA (British Contract Furnishers and Design Association/
Office Furniture Manufacturers Association)
- BFM (British Furniture Manufacturers)
- FIRA (Furniture Industry Research Association)
- GMB (Britain’s General Union)
- NBF (National Bedding Federation)
- Proskills
- WCFM (Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers)
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