About The British Furniture Confederation
The British Furniture Confederation (BFC) maintains regular dialogue with Government and other influential stakeholders to ensure that all policies and initiatives support a thriving furniture, textile floorcoverings, furnishings and bed sector. Many of its activities are channelled through the All Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group (APPFIG).
The sector is larger than many envisage, operating within a diverse marketplace including houses, offices, hotels, schools, cruise liners, hospitals, restaurants, residential accommodation, stadia, airports and other public spaces. UK furniture, bed, textile floorcoverings and furnishings manufacturing is a substantial growth industry for the UK. Verified government figures for 2022 put the value of the sector including retail at over £40 billion, supporting circa 292,000 jobs across over 28,500 companies.
Manufacturing turnover for the sector in 2022 was £11.35 billion, emanating from 6,880 companies employing 91,000 individuals, with furniture manufacturing showing the largest proportional increase in sales. Export performance reached £1.4 billion in 2022; however imports topped £8.5bn in the same period.
The Board Members
Phil Spademan
Managing Director – British Furniture Association (formerly British Furniture Manufacturers)
Sean Holt
Managing Director – Commercial Interiors UK
www.commercial-interiorsuk.com
Members
British Furniture Association
BFA
The British Furniture Association (BFA) – formerly BFM) is a trade association, employers’ organisation and member of the European Furniture Manufacturers’ Association. BFA has been representing the interests of the furniture industry for more than 60 years. BFA has a broad based membership covering, domestic, contract, office and kitchen manufacturers as well as a number of suppliers to the industry and retailers. In addition to its representational role, BFA offers an extensive membership services portfolio focused on providing ‘value for money’.
Carpet Recycling UK
Carpet Recycling UK is the only membership association dedicated to helping the UK carpet and textile flooring sector become more sustainable.
Our mission is to promote the diversion from landfill of textile flooring in the UK to resource for sustainable use. We do this by working with businesses in the supply chain, government and academia to foster collaborations and networks to achieve viable market-based solutions, encouraging design for recyclability.
Commercial Interiors UK
BCFA
Commercial Interiors UK (formerly The British Contract Furnishing Association (BCFA)) is the leading trade association representing the UK contract furniture and furnishings industry.
CI UK’s aim is to bring together manufacturers and contract furnishers and to inform the architect, specifier and interior designer of the wide range of products and services available.
Furniture Industry Research Association
FIRA
For over half a century, FIRA has driven the need for higher standards through testing, research and innovation for the furniture and allied industries. New and better materials, improved processes and appropriate standards have been developed to enhance the quality of furniture and assist manufacturers and retailers to become more competitive.
With a membership base spanning the entire furniture supply chain, across all market sectors, FIRA’s key aims are to provide knowledge, information, research and influence to its members.
National Bed Federation
NBF
The National Bed Federation is the recognised trade association representing UK manufacturers of beds and mattresses and their suppliers. Founded in 1912, its members today account for about 75% of total UK bedding turnover.
The Furniture Makers’ Company
FMC
The Furniture Makers’ Company is the furnishing industry’s charity and a City of London Livery Company. It fosters and supports the industry by nurturing the skills and expertise of students, providing financial assistance to people who work or have worked in the industry needing our help, and championing excellence through its Guild Marks and other awards.
Associates
Anti Copying in Design
ACID
ACID (Anti Copying in Design) is a membership organisation, committed to raising awareness about intellectual property theft within the creative industries and encouraging respect for intellectual property within corporate social responsibility. ACID’s powerful logo is a real symbol of deterrence, actively helping its members protect against the potentially devastating damage inflicted by IP infringement. To date, ACID Accredited Law Firms have achieved over £3million in costs and damages in over 400 settlements.
Association of Master Upholsterers & Soft Furnishers
AMUSF
The Association of Master Upholsterers & Soft Furnishers was founded in 1947, making it one of the oldest associations in the furniture industry.
Its membership comprises craft upholsterers, upholstered furniture manufacturers, chair frame manufacturers, soft furnishing retailers and contractors and others associated with the craft of upholstery. (Soft furnishing is traditionally encompassed within the skills range of the traditional upholsterer.)
British Plastics Federation
BPF – Flexibile Foam Group
The BPF Flexible Foam Group – part of the much bigger British Plastics Federation – represents the interests of the UK manufacturers and converters of polyurethane flexible foam for a large number of applications, the major ones of which are upholstered furniture, mattresses, automotive and packaging. Its prime activities include:
- Monitoring existing and proposed future Health, Safety and Environmental Regulations
- Identification of new research projects
- Ensuring UK representation and participation on the Board and Technical Committees of EUROPUR (European Association of Polyurethane Flexible Foam Block Manufacturers)
- Participation in the preparation of new, and the review of existing, foam standards nationally and globally
- Responding to environmental issues