Corporate liveryman spotlight: Peter Kelsey

Our corporate members and corporate supporters represent some of the most significant companies from across all sectors within the UK furnishing industry.

Corporate membership provides opportunities for leading businesses from the trade to support our charitable activities, get involved with civic events and network with other members.  Each corporate gets to elect three representatives to be admitted as corporate liverymen and act as the main points of contact being the business and livery.

In the fourth in a series of spotlight articles on our corporate members, corporate liveryman and Past Master Peter Kelsey, managing director of Designer Contracts, discusses what they have got out of membership.

What initially attracted you to The Furniture Makers’ Company?

I’ve been involved in the furnishings sector for many years and always been aware of the livery company as being a ‘force for the good’ of the wider industry. It has always sought to encourage the skills required to sustain the industry through its education and development work, particularly with students. It also promotes the quality and craftsmanship to be found among British furniture makers through its Guild Mark scheme which recognises excellence.

What was your primary motivation for joining the Company?

Another important aspect of the Company has been to bring together people from right across the furnishings sector, making it a vital platform – through both its social events and its many committees – to meet and network with like-minded professionals. Over the years it has provided a valuable forum for considering and tackling the many issues to affect the sector. It has also been an opportunity to give something back to an industry that has been good to me.

How did you first learn about the Company, and what made you consider becoming a corporate member?

I first became aware of the Company back in the 1970s and Designer Contracts became a corporate member back in 2014. As a company we were quick to recognise that corporate membership offered additionalbenefits and representation which could further enhance our involvement in the industry.

Did you have any specific expectations before joining?

As an individual I was keen to widen my involvement in the furnishings sector and also make whatever contribution to it that I could. To this end I was privileged to serve as Master from 2009 -10. I became a liveryman in 1978.

How does membership align with your company’s goals?

There are many similarities. Designer Contracts has always been keen to encourage the development of its staff and been mindful of their welfare. We share the same wider perspective on the future of the industry as the livery company which has always maintained an enlightened approach to its evolving needs.

What benefits or opportunities have you gained from being a member?

There have been numerous benefits and opportunities to membership, not least of which has been the opportunity to meet and collaborate with an incredible array of inspiring business leaders and talented crafts people. During my year as Master I was particularly pleased to have been involved with the Rifles (the Company’s military affiliation), meeting and understanding some of the brave reservists who had returned from deployment. There are so many stunning memories from my year – from the Mansion House installation, to having lunch with High Court judges, to the fabulous interaction with so many liverymen.

What aspects of the Company’s work or initiatives – charitable or livery – do you find most valuable?

I believe the balance of both is important – as I do in my own business. As well as having grown to become the UK’s leading flooring contractor, Designer Contracts has, over the years, supported many local and national charities, notably Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield and the national children’s help line, ChildLine. The City of London is also very special and I am proud to be a freeman of the City.

Have you participated in any of the Company’s events? If so, which ones, and how have they been beneficial? 

Over the years I have attended many Company events as well as been involved in the running and development of it through various committees. All of this has brough me into contact with people with whom I have formed long term friendships and business relationships. We shouldn’t underestimate the social side of the Livery – we have so many friends in the industry and do such special things: from being in the Tower of London for the Ceremony of the Keys to a troika ride through the snow in St Petersburgh.

How does the Company’s mission resonate with your company’s own values?

Giving back to the industry that has provided a livelihood for us all is consistent with our own Company values.

What role do you think the Company plays in the broader furnishing industry?

The Company has a vital role to play in bringing together people from across the sector to consider the many different issues that affect us all at different times. It provides a forum for discussion, a united voice for the industry and a channel through which to collaborate with other industry groups where relevant.

How important is the charitable aspect of the Company to you?

Immensely important. The Company has always had a commitment to welfare which became even more of a focus after it merged with the long-established Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association in 2013. The charitable arm of the livery company has, over the years, helped hundreds of people who have found themselves facing financial difficulties and who work – or have in the past worked – in some role in the furnishings sector.

How would you describe the community within The Furniture Makers’ Company?

Supportive, collaborative and with a shared vision and commitment to safeguarding the future of the industry. It does this through nurturing future talent and skills, encouraging and promoting excellence and providing a platform for a united voice at national level.

What advice would you give a company considering joining The Furniture Makers’ Company?

The Furniture Makers offers unparalleled opportunities to mix with and meet a wide array of industry influencers – from enthusiastic students and new start-ups with their own fresh insights to senior executives and business owners of blue-chip corporates with their vast knowledge and experience.

 Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience or reasons for joining?

I joined because my father was a liveryman. The turning point though was when I was asked to join a committee and started to contribute to the livery.  The more you put in the more you get out.