Our name, The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers, does not imply that we all are makers of furniture. As explained below, we embrace designers, manufacturers and retailers as well as today’s wonderful hands-on designer-makers. The City, from the early days of the Trade Guilds, has always used the term ‘Makers’ to encompass a whole industry.

The Furniture Makers Company is always keen to admit new members, men and women, as Freemen of the Company.

Liverymen are recruited from the Freemen whenever there is a vacancy within the 300, the limit imposed by the Court of Aldermen.

A Freeman, when invited to become a Liveryman, must be ‘engaged in or with the Furniture Industry in the United Kingdom’. In practice, because the Freedom is the route to the Livery, this applies to Freemen too. The rule is very carefully worded. It allows, for example, overseas customers or suppliers active in the UK to join the Company as well as professors and lecturers researching or teaching any aspect of the industry. We welcome furniture journalists and PR people – anyone whose work is (or, as time goes by, was) furniture related. We may be a closed shop but, within it, we are a very broad church.

Freemen may participate in all the activities of the Company except for the Autumn Dinner and the Master’s Outing. Only Liverymen can vote in Common Hall, to elect the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs.