In the Spotlight with Jessica Alexander

Livery Status: Liveryman

Tell me about yourself, background and company you work for.

I am the executive director of the National Bed Federation, the trade association for UK bed manufacturers and their suppliers. I am also director and part owner of PR & Social media company AKA PR.

I’ve been all my working life (almost 40 years!) in the furniture industry – initially as a journalist on Cabinet Maker, then in PR, working for many well-known companies in the sector (Slumblerand, Dunlopillo,  G Plan, Wood Brothers, Morris Furniture and the FTBA before it merged with the Furniture Makers, to name but a few).

When did you first hear about The Furniture Makers’ Company?

Right back in my early days as a journalist in the early 1980s. It wasn’t until the late 1990s that I was invited to sign up as a freeman by Peter Keen of Hypnos, when he was Master.

Why did you want to join The Furniture Makers’ Company?

Two reasons: the prestige of being part of a livery company; and wanting to give back something to the industry which had given me my living

How has the membership helped you?

I’m proud of being a member of the centuries old livery tradition – and proud to be able to do a little to help raise funds to help those in need and encourage and support young people joining our industry. It really is a family!

Would you recommend being a member to others?

Absolutely. For the same reasons I joined. It’s a commitment to do it properly, attend some events, help out on committees, but you meet people from all parts of the industry (which occasionally even leads to work!) and get to attend some fabulous events in amazing venues you wouldn’t normally access as a member of the public.

What area of the Company resonates with you?

All three aims of the Furniture Makers – welfare, education and excellence – are now clearly differentiated and important in their own different, but I think its ambitions to become a hub for education and development for the future are where it can really make a difference. It’s a challenge to communicate that to the industry though – and maybe that’s where I can do a little bit at least up in Yorkshire where I live through the new regional groups.

Tell us something no other member would know about you.

When I retire (not long now) I’m going to train as a Humanist celebrant! But hopefully, I’ll still be active with the Furniture Makers too.