Member Article

Eleven Yorkshire winners named among furniture industry’s national rising stars

Yorkshire’s vibrant furniture and furnishings industry has been recognised in a prestigious national awards scheme celebrating the achievements of 60 of the sector’s most talented upcoming stars, with 11 of the UK awards’ young winners working in the region.

Launched as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, the ‘60 for 60’ campaign recognises 60 of the most accomplished and promising young people in the sector. From product designers, cabinetmakers and technical developers to logistics professionals, commercial managers and operations directors, the awards showcase the diverse range of career opportunities on offer within the industry.

The Yorkshire winners, employed at furniture and furnishings firms across the region were: Ben Waters, operations director at HSL; Edward Hornsby, workshop manager at Tom Maxwell Furniture and Cabinetry; and Kieran Moore, group head of logistics at Harrison Spinks, all based in Leeds; Freya Whamond, designer at J Carey Design in Bradford; Joseph Ullmann, commercial director at Shackletons, and Kayleigh Anderson, transport and logistics coordinator at Jay-Be, both in Dewsbury were also winners as well as Lucy Bradshaw, senior technical developer at Camira Fabrics in Mirfield; Tom Kaye, manufacturing manager at Global Doors and Interiors in Wakefield; and Will Hudson, commercial designer at Habitat in Rotherham.

In North Yorkshire Andrew Gofton, contracts manager at Damian Cronin in York, and Tom Addison, designer-maker at Tom Addison Fine Furniture in Leyburn, were also recognised in the awards.

At 26 years of age, winner operations director Ben Waters is the youngest ever board member at furniture supplier HSL in Leeds. He is described as having been instrumental in establishing the company’s in-house logistics function, growing it from a small unit in Batley to a vast operation and increasing customer satisfaction in the process. Ben said: “I am grateful to be part of such a wonderful industry with such amazing emerging talents. I am humbled to win this award and I would like to thank all of my wonderful colleagues at HSL for their continued dedication and support.”

Expert judges from within the industry reviewed the submissions and selected the winners who were announced at a special ‘60 for 60’ awards ceremony held in the City of London on 5 December. Amanda Waring, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “We received hundreds of entries for ‘60 for 60’, ranging from wood working to carpet and textile design, showing not only the vibrancy and diversity of British talent, but also that the industry continues to offer exciting and rewarding career opportunities.

“We congratulate every one of our 60 outstanding winners and look forward to sharing our members’ mentoring skills and providing networking opportunities as they continue to develop their professional careers.

“While we have a long history of supporting the UK’s flourishing and world-renowned furniture and furnishings industry, and are celebrating 60 years since we were awarded livery status, we are very much a modern organisation and it is vital that we use our position to reward and recognise emerging talent in the sector.”

To find out more about ‘60 for 60’ go to www.furnituremakers.org.uk/60for60

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Robinson .