BFC recognises Stephen McPartland with award

The British Furniture Confederation (BFC) is pleased to recognise Stephen McPartland, MP for Stevenage since 2010, for his outstanding support for the British furniture, furnishing and bed industry since he entered Parliament.

The BFC acts as a single voice into government for the UK furniture, furnishing and bed industries.  Its executive comprises the heads of the industry’s leading associations, British Contract Furnishing Association (BCFA), British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM), Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA), National Bed Federation (NBF) and The Furniture Makers’ Company. It also works closely with Anti Copying In Design (ACID), Proskills, and the Association of Master Upholsters and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF).

Paul von der Heyde, chairman of the BFC says: “Stephen has been an active and vocal advocate for our industry. He has chaired the All Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group (APPFIG) and been a great supporter in our efforts to ensure that the Government’s legislation and activities have been as helpful to our Industry as possible.”

Stephen has been particularly involved in supporting the BFC’s campaigns to:

• limit the biomass subsidy for the burning of virgin timber for major electricity only generation
• ensure that there is a full and not partial review of the flammability regulations
• resist the impractical introduction of new general product safety regulations
• gain trailblazer status for the industry’s apprenticeship scheme
• manage the proper operation of European timber regulations
• include the industry’s creative efforts within the Britain is Great campaign
• gain support for the industry’s export efforts.

As well as chairing the various meetings of the APPFIG, he has also sponsored an industry exhibition held at the House in 2012 and a number of events at which senior members of the industry have been able to meet members of both Houses.

At the same time he has more generally encouraged his colleagues on all sides of both Houses to recognise the relevance and importance of the success of our substantial design, manufacturing and retailing activities to the UK economy and UK jobs.

He has also helped with the BFC’s representations to the Departments of Business, Innovation and Skills; Energy and Climate Change; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; the Treasury; Cabinet Office; and No 10.

“For all this, the members of the BFC are very grateful and name Stephen McPartland our Furniture Industry Parliamentarian of the last government,” adds Mr von der Heyde.

The award was presented to Mr McPartland at the annual Confederation lunch at Westminster on 1 July, organised by The Furniture Makers’ Company.