The following is a summary of BFC Activity over the past six months:-
All-Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group Meetings
The All-Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group (APPFIG) met in the UK Parliament on 21 February 2022 to discuss the latest political and policy developments of relevance to the furniture and furnishings industry. The APPFIG discussed what further action the Government could take to support the sector as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the ongoing challenges faced by the sector.
The meeting was chaired by Mark Eastwood MP (then Vice-Chair of the APPFIG). Mr Eastwood discussed the role that job fairs can play in attracting talent to the furniture and furnishings sector in the UK. The Group also examined how the sector can boost exports and the support available, including the role that Trade Envoys can play.
The All-Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group (APPFIG) also met in the UK Parliament on 17 May 2022 to hold their Annual General Meeting (AGM). The APPFIG elected Mark Eastwood MP as its new Chair.
The Group discussed the latest political and policy developments of relevance to the furniture and furnishings industry. Representatives from the BFC outlined industry challenges including rising raw material prices, people shortages and freight costs. The Group also discussed the upcoming Confederation Lunch.
The meeting, chaired by Mark Eastwood MP, thanked Mike Wood MP for his chairmanship over the last two years and was pleased that he was happy to serve as a Vice-Chair moving forward. The Group also welcomed two new Vice-Chairs who were elected at the AGM:
Kim Leadbetter MP
James Daly MP
The following parliamentarians were re-elected as Vice Chair:
Baroness Warsi
Rosie Cooper MP
Steve Baker MP
Greg Smith MP
Paul Howell MP
Confederation Lunch (19 July 2022)
The Confederation Lunch, which will take place on 19 July 2022 in the House of Commons, was discussed at the BFC Executive Meeting on 21 February 2022. The BFC examined how to attract more parliamentarians and the need to prepare messaging in advance of the event. At the BFC Executive Meeting on 17 May 2022, the Group discussed how the lunch will provide a useful opportunity for industry representatives to meet parliamentarians.
UK Furniture Industry representation in parliamentary constituencies
Members of the BFC Executive have provided their respective trade association membership lists including post codes to allow Brevia Consulting to identify where furniture and furnishings companies are located based on UK parliamentary constituencies. The research will be used to rank parliamentary constituencies alongside the numbers of businesses in each constituency. This data will then be used to target MPs that rank highly and seek their support to address industry challenges.
Trade Envoys
At the BFC Executive Meeting on 13 December 2021, the BFC agreed to explore how Trade Envoys can assist the sector. The BFC identified countries of interest for exports, and this was discussed with Mark Eastwood MP at the APPFIG meeting on 21 February 2022. At the APPFIG meeting on 17 May, Mark Eastwood MP, Trade Envoy to Pakistan, presented a potential opportunity for the UK furniture industry in Pakistan.
Ongoing engagement with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
The BFC has continued to liaise with Civil Servants in BEIS to ensure that the concerns and issues facing the industry are brought to the immediate attention of ministers. These have included labour shortages, business rates relief, the future of the super-deduction capital allowance, skills and training, the cost of energy, and supply chain challenges.
Environmental Survey
In December 2021, the members of the BFC collectively circulated a link to a comprehensive benchmarking survey about environmental activity in the sector. The results of the survey were circulated in February 2022 and there were 66 respondents in total. The BFC discussed the results at the BFC Executive Meeting on 21 February 2022 and agreed that the furniture industry needed more guidance on sustainability. The BFC agreed to highlight its concerns to the Government. In June 2022, the BFC Executive issued a press release highlighting challenges within the furniture industry in relation to sustainability, referring to the survey which took place in December 2021.
Levelling Up White Paper
On 17 February 2022, the UK Government published their Levelling Up White Paper. The BFC discussed the White Paper at the BFC Executive meeting on 21 February and identified the lack of support contained in the White Paper for the furniture industry. The BFC raised these concerns with Mark Eastwood MP who agreed to raise the BFC’s concerns with the relevant Minister.
Consistent Industry Data
BFC Executive members agreed at the BFC meeting on 17 May to make the data used to measure the success of the furniture and furnishing industry more consistent. The aim would be for the industry and government to speak with one voice on statistics like the size of the industry, the value of exports, and the number of people employed.