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Download the BFM membership services brochure (pdf)
or request a hard copy from mikedimond@bfm.org.uk

Support

Employment & personnel: BFM provides companies with solutions and offers support on all aspects of industrial relations including employment documentation audit and drafting, advice line, on-site support, tribunal representation, direct assistance with negotiations, access to our employment website (see members' area), monthly employment updates, absenteeism control and monitoring packs.

Training: BFM was a founding member of the Furniture, Furnishings & Interiors National Training Organisation (FFINTO). FFINTO is a sector skills body offering services including NVQ's, National Traineeship, Modern Apprenticeships, training news, public reports, calendar of events. Visit www.ffinto.org

Health & safety and environment: BFM helps members meet their legal obligations and provide a safer working evironment for their employees. Services carried out by BFM's industry specific consultant include: site surveys, monitoring (dust, noise, LEV's), waste minimisation, advice line, regular updates and support, assisted applications for government funded support, benchmarking best practice. Visit www.bfmenvironment.co.uk

Property: BFM has engaged the services of an agency to provide advice on property related matters such as advice on how to cut your rates bills and understanding property law changes and how they will affect your business.

Business support: legal help-line for queries on tax, VAT, PAYE & payroll, commercial legal, international trade, debt recovery

Design protection: low cost Design Registration Scheme + preferential rates for membership of ACID (Anti-Copying In Design). Visit www.acid.uk.com

Preferential purchase schemes: include Employers Liability insurance, diesel fuel, diesel bulk, gas oil, energy brokerage service, telephone brokerage.

Customs duty advisory service: BFM helps companies achieve significant savings on imported goods by taking advantage of the various cost reduction schemes operated by HM Customs & Excise.

Climate change levy: The ccl is applied to all energy use and typically adds around 10% to 15% to the cost for furniture manufacturing companies. BFM has developed a sector agreement with government resulting in significant savings.

Technical: technical advice line covering all aspects of furniture manufacturing

IT support: telephone advice line providing hardware and software support

Credit search: discount on company search and information service

Commercial

Business enquiries: sales leads service via

Export services: Help and advice in finding new overseas markets and maintaining a presence in established markets through group participation at overseas exhibitions, outward and inward trade missions and seminars. Visit Events & News for information on current activities.

London Fabric: International trade fair for drapery & upholstery fabric, leather and trimmings. Visit www.londonfabric.com

BFM & IT IS Great British Furniture logos: The the BFM logo is available to all BFM members and the Great British Furniture logos are available to members who participate in the campaign

Information & Networking

Management information: Members are kept fully updated with industry information to help in the development of business strategies. This includes: the state of trade survey, the wages survey, export statistics, order intake.

Representation: BFM is the premier trade association representing the British furniture industry. It is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Furniture Group, the European Furniture Federation and CBI. As such, it is able to address many critical issues on behalf of its members at Government and European Union levels. These include Environment, Health & Safety, Technical, Training, Industry Relations an many more. BFM is therefore able to represent and present the views of the furniture industry with a strong voice.

National forums: Meetings are held throughout the year to discuss current issues in the furniture sector.

Management development group: This group is aimed at broadening the managerial skills of young managers through various activities including networking events, UK & overseas visits and presentations.

BFM benchmarking club: BFM has an industry-trained expert for participation in the Bechmarking Index assessment designed to help an organisation assess its competitive position.

Publications

Web directory: Each member is given one page in the BFM web directory comprising of full contact details, company profile, up to two photographs and direct web and email link - see web directory. The BFM site receives on average 1,029 visitors per day, making it therefore a useful industry portal and reference medium for members.

Furniture Times: This quarterly newsletter published by BFM has useful industy news. View the latest issue (pdf).

Update: This is BFM's newsletter which is faxed to members every month. It is used to forward UK and export sales leads, industry news, exhibitions & events, health & safety and environmental news, supply news and offers, agent enquiries, UK Trade & Investment sales lead service.