British Furniture Manufacturers

Our Policy

We work with policymakers and politicians at every level raising awareness of the issues affecting our members’ businesses and campaign for changes in the law on these issues.

BFM are founder members of The British Furniture Confederation (BFC), a lobby group that represents the furniture and bed making industries of the United Kingdom.

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, furnishings and bed sector. Many of its activities are channelled through the All Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group (APPFIG), chaired by Mike Wood, MP (Dudley South)
  • 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 and furnishings manufacturing is a substantial growth industry for the UK. Latest verified government figures from 2018 put total consumer expenditure on furniture and furnishings at almost £17 billion, supporting 339,000 jobs across 52,500 registered companies in the wider furniture and furnishings sector, including specialist retail but excluding general retail.
  • Manufacturing turnover for the sector in 2018 was £12.2 billion, emanating from 8,707 companies employing 123,000 individuals. Furniture manufacturing is one of the top three divisions driving manufacturing growth in the UK according to official statistics. Export performance has continued its upward trend, increasing by 5.6% from 2017 to 2018 to £1.25 billion.

View more from the BFC here.