2026 Young Professional Industry Experience launched

The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, is accepting nominations for its Young Professional Industry Experience.

The programme is said to provide aspiring young people working in the industry an opportunity to visit sector leading companies and understand all areas of the wider trade, including materials, designing, manufacturing, pricing, marketing, sales and customer service.

It is aimed at young professionals, with three years or less experience in the industry, who have shown promise and would benefit from the opportunity of gaining a 360-degree perspective of the entire trade.

Eight young people will be selected to take part in the tour of around 20 companies, which will include masterclasses with businesses including Anti Copying in Design, Hypnos, G Plan Upholstery, Ocee & Four Design, Panaz, SATRA and the Sylva Foundation.

The deadline for applications is Friday 30 January. Applicants will be informed if they have made it through to the shortlisting interviews in early March, with short virtual interviews taking place later the same month. The programme will run for two weeks – previously three – from Monday 1 June – Friday 12 June, with a presentation lunch to employers and industry stakeholders taking place in summer.

Jennifer Seastone, a participant in 2025, said: “It was amazing that so many successful people took time out to really show us the insides of their businesses and what was important to them personally. It was also great meeting so many people pursuing different careers and learning about their processes.”

The programme is free to attend but employers are required to cover the travel, accommodation, and subsistence of their employees during the two weeks of the programme.

Jonny Westbrooke, CEO of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “We are delighted to be refining the Young Professional Industry Experience in response to feedback from across the industry. By moving to a focused two-week programme rather than three, we can make it more accessible for both employers and participants, while still delivering the same breadth, depth and impact of experience that makes this initiative so valuable.”

For more information, please contact Heather McIntosh, education and training manager at The Furniture Makers’ Company: heather@furnituremakers.org.uk.

To nominate someone for the Young Professional Industry Experience, please complete the application form.

Or for more information about The Furniture Makers’ Company, visit: The Furniture Makers’ Company – City of London livery company