Young Professional Industry Experience goes full circle

There is only a couple more days for companies from the furnishing industry to nominate an employee for The Furniture Makers’ Company’s 2019 Young Professional Industry Experience.

The Young Professional Industry Experience is a unique three week 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.

The programme is open to young professionals who are progressing well through early employment and have dreams of becoming future leaders of the industry.

This year’s candidates will get to visit 19 industry leading companies to get an understanding of how the business operates and its role in the sector.

Three of the companies confirmed for 2019 are Axminster Tools & Machinery, Blum and Parker Knoll. All three businesses have had employees previously complete the programme and 2019’s crop of candidates will get to hear from them during the tour this year.

Thomas Winfield, a participant in 2015 who works at Blum in customer service, said: “The Young Professional Industry Experience was a fantastic opportunity to learn about all areas of the furniture industry, spending time with experts within businesses and getting unrivalled access to areas they would not usually share with anyone else.”

Axminster Tools & Machinery’s key account manager, Felicity Squires, was a candidate last year.

She said: “It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit so many different companies within the industry.  I feel this experience has definitely opened my eyes to what is out there within the furnishing industry.

“The experience highlighted to me the future challenges within the furnishing industry, which I was not aware of before.”

Meisha-Grace Nicely, who works at Parker Knoll as head of marketing, was on the 2016 programme.

She said: “The networking opportunities provided are invaluable, and there were so many internal practices learned that were immediately applicable to Parker Knoll after the course. I encourage all employers and young professionals to invest in this course. It will certainly stand you in good stead for the future.”

The deadline for the Young Professional Industry Experience has been extended to the 8 February. Apply here.

For more information, please contact Anne Sampson, education events & campaigns manager at The Furniture Makers’ Company, on 020 7562 8523 or by emailing grantsandeducation@furnituremakers.org.uk