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Overview
In 2001 there were 7,675 furniture manufacturing businesses in the UK
with a combined turnover of £9.7 billion. The industry employs around
139,000 people.
Government
Partnership with the Household Goods, Furniture and Furnishings
Sector
The DTI's furniture, hardware and housewares desk is located in the
Consumer Goods and Services Unit of the Department's Business Group.
The overall aim of the unit is to work in partnership with the UK
furniture, hardware and housewares industries in order to encourage
their sustainable growth, their competitiveness, and the exploitation
of market opportunities both at home and abroad. For general
enquiries, please contact:
Furniture and beds
Tim Simons/ Ivan Lima
Email: tim.simons@dti.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7215 4168/1371
Fax: 020 7215 5801
Hardware and housewares
Tim Simons/ Ivan Lima
Email: tim.simons@dti.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7215 4168/1371
Fax: 020 7215 5801
Schemes and Initiatives
British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM) Members' Schemes
Members of BFM can benefit from a range of services, including exhibitions, publications, exports, management information, business support, training, seminars, life assurance/pension schemes, and debt recovery.
British Contract Furnishing Association (BCFA) Support Schemes
BCFA members have access to a wide range of business services, including private health/insurance schemes, a standards service, export advice, and employment networking.
Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA) Gold Award
The FIRA Gold Award is given in recognition of product excellence in the furniture industry. It provides comprehensive testing and ongoing auditing for a complete range or item of furniture to ensure that it has been manufactured to the highest possible standards. The performance of a Gold Award product is assessed by regular testing. In addition, to ensure consistent quality, production methods are subjected to twice yearly audits. The FIRA Gold Award applies to both the domestic and contract furniture markets. This includes office furniture, beds, chairs, kitchens, bedrooms, residential and banking furniture and also material and hardware suppliers.
Furniture, Furnishings & Interiors National Training Organisation (FFINTO)
FFINTO has recently been set up, bringing together a number of employer organisations to work collectively for the furniture industry. The role of FFINTO as a National Training Organisation is: to lead the industry's drive for world class skills; to be a nationally-recognised voice of employers on education and training; and to bring employers together, to say what skills are needed in their industries and how those skills can be achieved.
Specific Export Help for the Household Goods, Furniture and Furnishings Sector
UK Trade & Investment
UK Trade & Investment is the Government Organisation that brings together the work of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) in support of British trade and investment overseas.
Sector specific export help for Household Goods, Furniture and Furnishings can be found on the UK Trade & Investment website.
Communication and Information Industries Directorate
The DTI's Communications & Information Industries Directorate has a sectoral export sponsorship team dedicated to the development of strategic export initiatives for various UK sectors including the brown goods sector. While initial enquiries on regional market opportunities should be directed to the country desks of UK Trade & Investment, if you wish to discuss any strategic export issues the team can be contacted as follows:
Other Sector Contacts
Listed below is a selection of organisations that can offer assistance to companies in this sector.
A more extensive list of Trade Associations in this sector can be found at the Trade Association Forum site.
Association of Master Upholsterers (AMU)
E-mail: amu@easynet.co.uk
Tel: 01633 215454
Fax: 01633 244488
Aims to support small businesses engaged in upholstery, soft furnishing, and to promote public awareness of the craft.
British Contract Furnishing Association
E-mail: enquiries@bcfa.org.uk
Tel: 01494 777700
Fax: 01494 896779
The lead association representing the British contract Furniture and Furnishing industry. BCFA's aim is to bring together British manufacturers and contract furnishers and to inform the architect, specifier and interior designer of the wide range of goods and services available. The BCFA has over 350 members.
British Furniture Manufacturers Association (BFM)
Email: enquiries@bfm.org.uk
Tel: 020 7724 0851
Fax: 020 7706 1954
Principal trade association for contract and domestic furniture manufacturers. BFM represents companies on all critical issues facing the industry today, including the environment, exports, training, health and safety, industrial relations and industry wide welfare benefit schemes. BFM also organises the longest running furniture show in the UK, held at the NEC in Birmingham during August.
British Hardware and Housewares Manufacturers' Association
Brooke House
4 The Lakes
Bedford Road
Northampton NN4 7YD
Email: bhhma@brookehouse.co.uk
Tel: 01604 622023
Fax: 01604 631252
Represents leading British companies supplying the housewares, hardware, DIY and gardening trade. Currently has over 370 members.
Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA)
A leading independent furniture research association.
FIRA International Limited
Maxwell Road
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
SG1 2EW.
Tel: 01438 777700
Fax: 01438 777800
National Bed Federation
Tel: 01823 368008
Fax: 01823 350526
The recognised trade association representing UK manufacturers of beds and mattresses and their suppliers. Its members today account for about 90% of the total UK bedding turnover.
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UK Trade & Investment |
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Sector specific export help for the furnishings and related industries |
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Companies House |
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Link to a wide range of Government sites and Professional Bodies that can provide general guidance and support for all UK companies |
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Small Business Service |
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Schemes and initiatives designed to help small businesses. |
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DTI Regulatory Guidance |
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General guidance and links to other relevant DTI web pages |
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| Related external sites: |
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DTI is not responsible for the content of external sites. |
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Trade Association Forum |
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List of Trade Associations in this sector |
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