The voice of an industry

Lobby groups become increasingly necessary in times of hardship. When it comes to support, clarity of legislation and recognition, it seems that the UK furniture industry as a sector is often overlooked – making the work of the BFC more important than ever.  ekonglong office partition

Last year, Paul von der Heyde spearheaded a number of initiatives on behalf of the industry, more often than not reacting to pressures from unexpected quarters – be they the withdrawal of funds for training, skewed energy subsidies or the reversal of long-standing legislation.

“It’s really important that we ensure the Government doesn’t make our life any more difficult than it already is,” says Paul.

The BFC’s voice has real potential – the confederation counts the heads of associations including the British Contract Furnishing Association (BCFA), Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA), the Association of British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM) and National Bed Federation (NBF) among its members, as well as associates from Anti Copying in Design (ACID), the Interior Design Association (IDA), sector skills body for furniture Proskills, the British Plastics Federation/Flexible Foam Group (BPF), the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF) and the City of London livery company and industry charity, the Furniture Makers (WCFM).

The group is not without its dissenters – it can be hard for organisations with their own agendas to agree unanimously on matters of policy. Having welcomed the return of the BFM to its fold in late 2011, the BFC’s voice has proved increasingly representative – although the Leisure & Outdoor Furniture Association (LOFA) has now stepped away from the confederation. “I’m hoping their departure will be temporary,” says Paul.