The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, held its 11th annual Confederation Lunch at the Houses of Parliament in partnership with the British Furniture Confederation (BFC). The confederation represents various trade groups including the UK Sustainable Flooring Alliance. The event brought together senior industry leaders and MPs to discuss the sector’s £39 billion contribution to the UK economy and the priorities needed to drive future growth.
The lunch, held on 11 November in the Terrace Pavilion at the Palace of Westminster and co-sponsored by FIRA, is the Company’s most significant annual networking event. Around 150 senior figures – drawn from the livery company and the trade associations that make up the BFC – were in attendance.
The event offered businesses valuable direct access to the heads of the trade bodies and MPs of the All-Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group (APPFIG). The parliamentary host was Adam Thompson MP, chair of the APPFIG and Labour MP for Erewash.
Following a welcome from Jonny Westbrooke, CEO of The Furniture Makers’ Company, Jonathan Hindle, chairman of the BFC, provided an overview of the state of the sector and the work the BFC has been undertaking with government.
Speaking to delegates, Jonathan said: “The UK furniture and furnishings industry is a powerhouse. In 2023, it was worth over £41 billion to the UK economy, supporting 260,000 jobs across 33,000 companies. In 2024 this total fell to £39 billion, 32,000 companies and 245,000 jobs – a decrease of between 3% and 6%. This is a very concerning indicator of the current state of our economy and the impact of government policies that are stifling investment.
“Nonetheless, this remains a substantial industry – one that matters not only to the economy but to communities across the country. Exports still lag behind imports, but the potential for growth is clear, and more must be done to encourage investment in our local manufacturing capabilities.”