Member Article

Coventry furniture business needs to hire new staff to support growth

A Coventry-based furniture business, which has offices and clients all over the world, says its growth is being hampered by a shortage of staff and has 15 roles that urgently need filling.

X4Office, which is based on the Pilot Business Park in the city, is ready to recruit 12 new furniture fitters on full-time contracts, with full training, to help fulfil contracts in the coming months.

The company delivers and fits furniture from a range of suppliers into businesses and residential properties across the UK and beyond – and has seen a major increase in demand in recent months.

It currently employs 34 fitters and wants to increase that significantly but is struggling to bring people in so has enlisted the help of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce president Tom Mongan to help solve the problem.

The company, which has been running for 20 years and has offices in Manchester, London, Miami and Amsterdam, launched its sister business, Studio 44, in 2018.

It supports clients with the specification, procurement and installation of furniture on everything from high-end boutiques through to large-scale commercial role outs and is also recruiting for office roles including admin and sales.

X4Office Director Kerry Simms said: “We are an international business but our HQ is here in Coventry and we want to grow but recruitment is proving to be difficult.

“We could probably more than double the number of staff we already have based on the current demand, however, we are looking to bring in 12 new fitters very quickly. They don’t need experience, they just need to be relatively fit because there is physical work involved.

“We will train them and offer them a good working environment but not being able to recruit is really hampering our ability to grow – it’s hampering our ability to grow.”

Lisa Haigh-Jones, Furniture Consultant at Studio 44, added: “As a business we pride ourselves on offering an impeccable service to our customers on a range of project sizes and budgets, and provide an end-to-end solution.

“We can see a great opportunity for growth but need the right people to come in, be part of a great team and help us to take the business to the next level.”

Chamber president Tom Mongan visited the firm as part of his drive to support local companies as the economy recovers from the Covid-19 crisis.

He said: “I was really pleased to meet Kerry, Lisa and the team and to hear about the work they do all over the world.

“The company is in a really strong position to grow but, like so many businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire, it is struggling to bring in the people it needs to fulfil those ambitions.

“Having been to visit X4Office and Studio 44, I’ve seen for myself what a great working environment it is and heard all about the way they reward staff and look to develop them.

“So, with unemployment at a much higher level than it was pre-Covid, it would be great to see local people taking this opportunity to find good employment with a growing company.

“We are also looking at ways that the Chamber might be able to support through our network of business contacts.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .