Furniture Makers’ Company raises £20,000 to support university and college students

Master Ben Burbidge and charity president The Lord Kirkham CVO

The Furniture Makers’ Company’s annual Royal Charter Appeal has raised a huge £20,000, enabling the charity to financially support even more university and college students studying furnishing related courses around the UK.

Every year The Furniture Makers’ Company holds a dinner and charity appeal to commemorate being issued with a Royal Charter by Her Majesty The Queen in 2013. In 2015 the charity launched a new initiative, the Royal Charter Scholarship and Bursary Fund, to support and reward promising students, preparing them to become future leaders, crafts people and innovators of the furnishing industry.

The Furniture Makers’ Company is very grateful to the individuals and companies that donated to this year’s appeal, including Blue Crush Communications, CCUK, Chimera Insurance Agency, Community Playthings, CPS Group, Ercol, Fishpools, KI and Panaz.

In his first official act as The Furniture Makers’ Company’s charity president, The Lord Kirkham CVO thanked this year’s donors during a speech at the black tie Royal Charter Dinner, held at Skinners’ Hall, London on Tuesday 25 October.

The Lord Kirkham CVO, charity president of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “The cost of higher education continues to rise and a scholarship or bursary can make a huge difference to the recipient. In many cases it enables a student, who otherwise would not have the chance, to continue their education. On behalf of The Furniture Makers’ Company, I would like to thank everyone that donated to this incredibly important cause which helps safeguard the future of the industry.”

The evening also included the official prize giving of The Furniture Makers’ Company’s annual Sustainability Award and first-ever Export Award, awarded to Godfrey Syrett and Boss Design Group, respectively.

Michael Holmes, commercial director at Boss Design Group, was presented the Export Award and David Hall, group sales & marketing director at Godfrey Syrett, received the Sustainability Award.

Ben Burbidge, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “The goal of the Sustainability and Export Awards is to recognise and promote UK furnishing manufacturers that are exemplars of our great industry. Boss Design Group and Godfrey Syrett have proven that they are willing to invest and push boundaries in order to improve – both companies are worthy winners.”