New liverymen and corporate liverymen

Pictured: Tony Smart, Senior Warden; Mark Lynch; Ben Burbidge, Master; Andrew Jackson; Hayden Davies, Junior Warden; Wendy Shorter.

We are delighted to welcome three new liverymen and seven corporate liverymen to The Furniture Makers’ Company.

Master Ben Burbidge admitted the new liverymen and corporate liverymen to the Company at the court meeting on Tuesday 4 October at Furniture Makers’ Hall, London.

The liverymen and corporate liverymen admitted were:

Andrew Jackson, Liveryman

Andrew is the owner and Managing Director of Burgess Beds Ltd, taking the company from strength to strength over the past decade, winning Bed Manufacturer of the Year 2013 after moving to a new start of the facility in 2007. Andrew began his working life as an apprentice Draughts-man in Bradford with Richard Johnson and Nephew, before studying Mechanical Engineering up to Masters level as part of their trainee manager programme. Following this Andrew worked at a number of companies as an Engineering or Production Manager, before taking his first role as a company director with Slumberland Plc in 1986. He joined the Furniture Makers’ Company as a Freeman in December 2014.

Mark Lynch, Liveryman

Mark is the operations director for Brighthouse and has over 20 years’ retail experience from a number of product areas and roles. He has extensive international experience encompassing sales/operations planning, forecasting, sourcing, supply chain, franchise operations and retailing across the Far East, Middle East, Europe and the UK. Mark studied Economics and Politics at Sunderland before embarking on a career that began at Adams Childrenswear where he moved up to become merchandising manager. He joined Bright-House in 2006 as the head of supply chain, eventually becoming the director of supply chain, heading the supply and buying team of over 600 colleagues. Mark joined The Furniture Makers’ Company in June 2014.

Wendy Shorter, Liveryman

Wendy is the Founder and Director of Wendy Shorter Interiors, which opened almost a decade ago. She went to school in Hertford and returned to education in the 1990s, studying a course in Advanced Furniture Studies at London Metropolitan University, returning in 2004 as a tutor to teach City & Guilds courses. In 2006 she became Director of Training for the Association of Master Upholders and Soft Furnishers, setting up her company Wendy Shorter Interiors the same year. She is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Upholders, won awards for her book ‘Professional Soft Furnishings’ published in 2010 and currently spends her time running courses through her company in St Albans.

John Atkin, Corporate Liveryman, Bisley

John is the managing director of Bisley Office Furniture, having been promoted to the role in 2013. He was the finance director from 2007.

Robert Eastoe, Corporate Liveryman, Hypnos Beds

Bob is the finance director for Hypnos, having joined the company nine years ago. He studied Science at Birmingham University before moving into accountancy and finance roles. In the mid 90s he received an MBA in venture capital from Henley Management College, taking a chief financial officer role at Elga Process Water, then joining Hypnos in 2007.

Christopher Ward, Corporate Liveryman, Hypnos Beds

Chris is the group marketing director for Hypnos, joining from bathroom specialist Plum-base in 2008. He studied Business, and then for an MBA, at Staffordshire University. This led Chris to a career in marketing for building and material suppliers such as Saint-Gobain, before becoming head of marketing for Plumbase.

Stephen Ward, Corporate Liveryman, Hypnos Beds

Stephen is the Managing Director for Hypnos Beds.

Ian Oscroft, Corporate Liveryman, Whitemeadow

Ian is the managing director, and majority shareholder, of Whitemeadow, who manufacture sofas, chairs and beds. He started in the furniture trade in 1987 with the Christie Tyler Group, and worked his way up to become a managing director of one of the groups companies. In 2003 he joined Whitemeadow, before leading a management buyout of the company in 2007.

Peter Garnett, Corporate Liveryman, Whitemeadow

Peter is the operations director, and a co-owner, of Whitemeadow, who manufacture sofas, chairs and beds. He studied furniture production management at Buckinghamshire College, and joined Christie Tyler Group in 1987. During Peter’s time at Christie Tyler he was promoted up to the role of works manager, moving to become general manager at Whitemeadow in 2000. In 2007 he was part of the management buyout group.

Paul Wesson, Corporate Liveryman, Whitemeadow

Peter is the sales director, and a co-owner, of Whitemeadow, who manufacture sofas, chairs and beds. He joined the industry in 1991 taking a business development role at Guardsman UK, who provide furniture care services and products. Peter then had several sales management roles for domestic and office furniture suppliers, before joining Whitemeadow as the sales director in 2003.