A message from the Master – COVID-19

Across the UK, the march of the Coronavirus continues and each day brings different challenges, but I would like to assure you that The Furniture Makers’ Company has taken proactive steps to protect the health of our members and employees while offering  a committed and uninterrupted service as much as possible during this difficult time.

Trips, visits and events

It is with great regret, but in total support of Government advice, that with immediate effect, we are cancelling or postponing all events until the end of July 2020. A revised almanac for the 2020-2021 livery year is being prepared and will be shared digitally over the forthcoming weeks. However, we are confident that this crisis will pass, and we look forward to regrouping again sooner rather than later and involve you in what we hold most dear, outward facing events, initiatives and industry engagement.

Help and support

Our office systems have been streamlined for our team to work from home, with morning and afternoon team meetings taking place virtually via Microsoft Teams. Communication via email will continue as normal and we are working on having direct dials routed through to team members’ mobile phones in the coming week. Channels of communication are, therefore, well and truly open and we welcome your calls.

Each week our Strategy Committee will meet virtually to discuss industry related issues and ensure our communication channels are working effectively and there is continuity of our support. 

For example, what is your company doing to keep morale high, what can we do to support you – all ideas welcome! Let us know so we can share your stories with others. Many of our members are lone and SME and work on their own, isolation can lead to loneliness so call us, connect and let’s have a chat! Also, many of our members are slightly older and, therefore vulnerable so, if you know of someone who is isolated and on their own, please tell us and we can keep in touch.

Committee meetings

We are looking forward to an uninterrupted continuance of the valuable work that our committee meetings undertake which will continue virtually using Microsoft Teams. It is a very simple and effective system and we can help by providing guidance to use Microsoft Teams via computer and mobile devices. Committee members will be contacted as normal via email about forthcoming committee meetings, and I hope you will bear with us if these need to change depending on current events.

Let’s remain positive!
Finally, we are all facing trying and testing times in uncharted territories, therefore the bonds of friendship and camaraderie that come with being part of a modern livery are more important than ever. 

We are the furnishings industry charity and our door is open to help those within our industry who face hardship. United, through generosity, kindness and thinking of others will bind us together. We have come through difficult times in the past but there are good reasons for a quiet but resolute confidence for the future.