60 for 60 winners announced

The achievements of 60 of the British furniture and furnishing industry’s brightest young stars have been recognised in a new national awards campaign designed to celebrate the talents and contributions of the next generation working within the sector. As part of our 60th anniversary celebrations, we announced the winners of our 60 for 60 awards which showcase the talents of 60 outstanding young people who are working in the furniture and furnishing industry.

From product designers, cabinetmakers and technical developers to logistics professionals, commercial managers and operations directors, the award highlights the diverse range of career opportunities available for young people in the furnishing industry. The winners were announced at a special 60 for 60 ceremony held at Carpenters’ Hall in the City of London on 5 December 2023.

Amanda Waring, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “We received hundreds of entries for 60 for 60, ranging from woodworking to carpet and textile design, showing not only the vibrancy and diversity of British talent, but also that the industry continues to offer exciting and rewarding career opportunities. We congratulate every one of our 60 outstanding winners and look forward to sharing our
members’ mentoring skills and providing networking opportunities as they continue to develop their professional careers.

“While we have a long history of supporting the UK’s flourishing and world-renowned furniture and furnishing industry, and are celebrating 60 years since we were awarded livery status, we are very much a modern organisation and it is vital that we use our position to reward and recognise emerging
talent in the sector.”

Expert judges, including furniture and award-winning garden designer Amanda Waring, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company; Carla Barnett, group HR director of international luxury interior furnishings
company Sanderson Design Group; Edward Tadros, long-time chairman of iconic British furniture brand Ercol; John Makepeace OBE, who has had an illustrious award-winning career as a designer, maker and teacher; and Sue Kemp, managing director of leading buying group Associated Independent Stores, reviewed the submissions and selected the 60 for 60 winners.

We would like to thank the following companies that signed up as a principal partner or sponsor of the
campaign.

Principal partners: Associated Independent Stores, Blum UK, Biesse UK, Castelan Group, Furniture Village, Land of Beds and Tempur UK.

Sponsors: Artichoke, Celtheath, Ercol, the Furniture and Home Improvement Ombudsman, Habitat, Handy Limited, Harrison Spinks, Hypnos, Hypnos Contract Beds, KI, Mattress Online, the National Bed Federation, Ocee & Four Design, Panaz Sanderson Design Group, Shackletons, Silentnight, Sleepeezee, the Tusler Studio, William Hands and Wren Kitchens.