The Young Professionals Industry Experience is our unique three week intensive programme where aspiring young people are given the opportunity to visit and understand all areas of the furniture industry, including materials, designing, manufacturing, pricing, marketing, sales, and customer service.
Sponsored by The January Furniture Show, the programme is open to aspiring young professionals and graduates who are progressing well through early employment and have dreams of becoming future leaders of the industry. The intense three week experience is ideal for those candidates whose employers will sponsor them, although we also consider applications from those who are currently between jobs.
Our partners
The Young Professionals Industry Experience is a unique opportunity that only The Furniture Makers Company, though its extended membership, is able to provide.
Each year we forge partnerships with both our corporate members and industry supporters to arrange insightful and informative visits, tours, and presentations for our young candidates.
With partners small, medium and large, representing a broad cross section of our industry, the experience is the most comprehensive view of the industry our candidates are likely to ever see.
Presentation
Following the culmination of the three-week programme, we invited representatives from all of the companies that supported the course to come to Furniture Makers’ Hall to view a presentation given by the YPIE participants.
Testimonials
“The tour has been a great opportunity to understand the whole supply chain, from manufacturing to after customer support. I also feel that this tour has given me a great platform for me to progress and network with senior people who are currently driving the furnishing industry. I’d highly recommend this to any young professional.”– Pavandeep Chahal, quality assurance manager at Parker Knoll Upholstery
“The variety of the course has enabled me to truly appreciate what different departments have to do in order to support one another and succeed. I believe this experience has helped me greatly as I work towards professional development and career progression.” – Emily Dwyer, operations graduate at Herman Miller.
“I really enjoyed the chance to explore other companies. Getting a chance to look at how other companies operate and being able to take what I have seen and then apply it to my job role is something that only this course can give.” – Thomas Firth, cell operative at Silentnight Beds
How to get involved
For more information, please contact Damilola Bamidele, grants and education manager at The Furniture Makers’ Company, on 020 7562 8523 or by emailing grantsandeducation@furnituremakers.org.uk
