January Furniture Show re-signs as Young Professional Industry Experience sponsor

The Furniture Makers’ Company, the furnishing industry’s charity, is delighted to announce that the January Furniture Show has re-signed as sponsors of the Young Professional Industry Experience programme for 2017.

Launched in 2014, the Young Professional Industry Experience brings together some of the best and brightest young talent in the furnishing industry to take part in an intensive three-week learning programme.

The group are given access to all areas of the furnishing industry supply chain, learning about raw materials and components, the complexity of manufacturing, buying criteria, pricing, marketing, PR and merchandising, through to consumer law, after sales and customer service.

Twenty leading industry companies will open their doors in June and July to give the delegates an insight into their businesses, including: Anti Copying in Design, Axminster Tools & Machinery, Blum, Cabinet Maker, Community Playthings, DFS, Ercol, FIRA, Fishpools, The Furniture Ombudsman, Halstock, Herman Miller, Howdens Joinery, Hypnos, Muirhead Leather, Not on the High Street, Panaz, Parker Knoll, Silentnight and UBM. Participants will also spend two days with organisers of the January Furniture Show at its sister exhibition, the Manchester Furniture Show, on 16-17 July.

Laraine Janes, director of the January Furniture Show, said: “We are delighted to sponsor the Young Professional Industry Experience once again. The course is an excellent opportunity for budding industry professionals to experience a variety of areas across the furnishing industry supply chain and we were proud to support it. We’ve been in this industry for a number of years and we are always keen to support new talent.”

The Furniture Makers’ Company is looking for young professionals to participate in the 2017 programme. The closing date for applications is 30 January 2017.

Ben Burbidge, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “The Young Professionals Industry Experience is a unique opportunity that only The Furniture Makers’ Company is able to offer through our membership.  If you have a talented young manager in your company, give them the learning opportunity of a lifetime by putting them forward for our unique and ground-breaking Young Professional Industry Experience.”

For more information contact Dami Bamidele, grants and education manager, by calling 020 7256 5558 or by emailing grantsandeducation@furnituremakers.org.uk