The skills challenge we don’t talk about enough in furniture

By Hannah Hockley, founder, The Apprenticeship Partner

When conversations turn to skills in the furniture industry, the focus is often on shortages.

Not enough applicants. Not enough experienced people. Not enough young people coming into the sector.

These challenges are real, but they can sometimes lead us to focus only on recruitment, when perhaps the bigger question is: where will the next generation of skills actually come from?

Because skills in furniture are rarely just technical.

They are developed through experience, problem solving, judgement, attention to detail and learning from others. They sit in workshops, factories, showrooms, installation teams and offices across the industry. They are often built gradually over years and passed on through day-to-day working rather than formal instruction.

That means the challenge is not simply attracting people into the industry. It is creating opportunities for knowledge to be shared once they arrive.

Skills are more than qualifications

When employers talk about wanting experienced people, they are often describing qualities that go beyond formal training.

They want people who can think ahead, solve problems, understand customers, communicate well and make good decisions.

These are all valuable skills, but they are rarely developed in isolation.

For many people working in furniture today, someone gave them an opportunity, showed them the ropes and trusted them to learn.

That process still matters.

The hidden risk of relying on experienced hires

For many businesses, recruiting experienced people can feel like the quickest solution.

But across the industry, more employers are finding that experienced candidates are harder to find and competition for talent continues to increase.

At the same time, many highly skilled people across furniture and interiors are approaching retirement or moving into different roles.

If knowledge is not being shared and developed internally, there is a risk that valuable experience leaves the business without being replaced.

Apprenticeships are one way to transfer knowledge

Apprenticeships are often spoken about as a recruitment tool, but their value goes much further.

At their best, apprenticeships create structured opportunities for experienced people to share knowledge and develop others.

They allow apprentices to learn technical skills while also building confidence, workplace behaviours and an understanding of how the industry works in practice.

Importantly, apprenticeships are not only for young people. They can support career changers, upskilling and progression within existing teams too.

Small businesses have more to offer than they think

Many furniture businesses are small or medium-sized employers and sometimes assume they are too busy or too small to support apprentices.

In reality, these environments often provide some of the richest learning experiences.

Smaller teams can give apprentices exposure to a wider range of activities, closer relationships with experienced colleagues and a stronger understanding of how the business operates.

The key is not having a perfect process. It is creating an environment where people can learn.

Looking ahead

There is no single solution to the skills challenge facing furniture.

But if the industry wants to strengthen its future workforce, it may help to think beyond filling vacancies and focus more on how skills, experience and knowledge are passed on.

Apprenticeships are one route that supports this, but more broadly, creating opportunities for people to learn and develop will continue to play an important role in the future of the sector.

How FIESTA supports the sector

FIESTA (Furniture Industry Education, Skills and Training Alliance) supports furniture and interiors businesses with skills development and apprenticeships.

By providing independent guidance and connecting employers with training and support, FIESTA helps businesses build practical, sustainable approaches to developing people and strengthening skills across the sector.

For an initial conversation about apprenticeships or skills development, contact FIESTA at info@fiesta.org.uk