Careers

The Furniture, Furnishings and Interiors industry in the UK has, over the last few years been one of the country’s success stories. Home makeover programmes, and new office developments have fueled demand for furniture and interior fittings. One result of this has been an expansion in numbers employed in both large and small companies.

Entry into the industry is via several routes, which one people follow is mainly dependent on the training provision in their area.

Please contact the FFINTO office to gain a FREE copy of the Furniture Futures CD ROM which details how the different routes into the industry work and how careers are built from the initial entry point.

FFINTO also have a Career Pathway document available for you to download, which has details of Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships.

Cabinet Making

What does Cabinet Making involve?

Cabinet Making is a skilled trade in furniture, kitchen and shopfitting industries. Cabinet Makers produce and assemble component pieces of furniture items including dining room tables and chairs, cabinets, entertainment and wall units, chests of drawers, lounge suites, office furniture, kitchen cupboards and benches. Most specialise in a certain range of furniture.

Some work to their own designs but most do so with existing designs.

Cabinet Makers may be involved in machining of solid timber and veneered board components (see Wood Machinist), and may also become involved in finishing processes (see Furniture Polisher and Finisher).

Furniture Assemblers carry out most of the above jobs, especially the assembly of component pieces. When producing pieces they will utilise a smaller range of machines/tools and usually at a lower skill level.

Hours and environment

Most Cabinet Makers Furniture Assemblers work in a factory environment with efficient fume and dust extraction equipment and wear protective equipment.

The hours of work depend on the workplace; in a factory they are normally 39 hours a week. Overtime and shift work may be required. Self-employed Cabinet Makers may determine their own hours; occasionally they may have to work long hours and at weekends to meet deadlines.

Personal requirements

Ability to perform manual tasks.
Capable of understanding written instructions.
Able to work to a high level of accuracy.
Able to carry out basic mathematical calculations.
Good communication skills.
Computer literate.
Interest in fashion and style.

Furniture Designer

What does Furniture Design involve?

Furniture Designers mainly work with wood, but can use other materials including ceramics, glass and metal.

They start off with an idea, and draw sketches by hand or computer.

They have to consider materials, cost and how to actually make the piece.

They have to make a sample or prototype before going into production.

Hours and environment

There are no set hours, but Furniture Designers might have to work long hours as they start to build up their business.

They are usually based in a studio, workshop, or at home, but will spend time at exhibitions or visiting shops, galleries and private customers.

Personal requirements

To be creative.
Practical skills and knowledge of the materials and tools needed.
An understanding of colour and 3-D design.
To be able to plan and organise a project through several stages.
The ability to work out the costs of materials and time and price items accordingly.
The ability to reach agreements with customers and sell ideas and designs.
Business skills, including marketing, book-keeping and organisation are very useful - a knowledge of safety requirements.

Furniture Polisher and Finisher

What does Furniture Polishing and Finishing involve?

Furniture Polishers and Finishers prepare and treat wood to give it a smooth finish and bring out the beauty of the natural timber.

They are responsible for finishing items such as dining room tables and chairs, lounge suites, cabinets, chests of drawers, wall units, kitchen cabinets, musical instruments, shop fittings and readying them for sale.
They may also work on fixed timbers doors, or wall fittings in old buildings.
Most furniture polishing is done by the pressure spray-painting method, although hand polishing and other machine applications are also used.
A knowledge of stains, sanding, timber based surfaces, metals and plastics is required.
Some Furniture Polishers specialise as spray finishers using low-pressure spray equipment and guns.

Furniture polisher Polishers carry out the same basic processes in preparing the wood and then finishing it. They tend to work in small units carrying out specialist hand polishing.

Hours and environment

Furniture Polishers generally work in a factory type environment with efficient fume and dust extraction equipment including overall, dust mask and goggles.

Personal requirements

Have the ability to perform manual tasks.
Normal colour vision.
Good communication skills.
Capable of understanding written instructions.
Have an eye for quality and detail.

Furniture Restoration

What does Furniture Restoration involve?

This part of the industry deals with the care and repair of furniture, which can generally, but not exclusively, be classed as antique.

The type of work can range from simple things such as re-gluing parts which have fallen right off, through to completely rebuilding a piece of furniture including the making of missing components, and re-polishing.

It can also encompass such things as re-upholstery, French Polishing, Woodturning and at advanced level, Gilding and Marquetry.

Personal requirements

Before starting a career in Restoration, you will need to have gained a number of years of experience in furniture making, Upholstery, and French Polishing.
An understanding about the history of furniture.
Specialist techniques used within the restoration industry.

Production

What does Production involve?

As a production worker you could be helping to make any kind of manufactured goods - from kitchen tables to soft furnishings. So any particular job could vary just as much - the work might be light or heavy, quite routine or very specialised.

In a lot of jobs you operate a machine - setting it up, switching it on and keeping it supplied with material or components. You keep an eye on all the gauges and instruments to make sure that it is running properly, and things like the temperature, speed and pressure are right. You might adjust the machine, or call in the maintenance people if it goes wrong.

You could also do finishing work, cleaning products, smooth rough edges off or putting on protective coatings. Some production workers assemble products (fitting items together) or pack them. In other jobs you check the products for faults, and weigh samples to make sure that they are the correct weight.

Hours and environment

Safety workers and operators may work full time or part time. They may work days, evenings, nights or shifts. There may be overtime.

Production workers usually work in factories, either on a production line or on a bench. Conditions may be clean, light and airy, but some can be dirty, dusty, oily and hot or cold. Production workers may sit or stand for long periods of time.

Production workers wear protective clothing, such as overalls, safety boots, gloves and/or eye protection and head covering.

Personal requirements

This job could be for you if you enjoy practical work, and you can work quickly and carefully.
In some jobs you must be able to read safety notices and you may need good sight and/or normal colour vision.
When you go for a job you may need to take a practical test.

Soft Furnishings

What does Soft Furnishing involve?

Soft furnishing makers produce curtains, blinds, bedspreads, quilts and wall hangings.

Soft Furnishing production workers are involved in all stages of production, from making and cutting the fabric through to finishing the item.

A Soft Furnisher who makes curtains and blinds, also takes measurements, provides cost estimates, and fits tracks and curtains on site.

Hours and environment

Soft Furnishing production workers can work in factories or at home using a range of specialist machines. They may be employed on a full-time, part-time or casual basis.

Personal requirements

Interested in practical and manual work.
Able to work as part of a team.
Able to do neat, detailed work.
Able to work patiently and orderly, and to meet production deadlines.
Good eyesight and normal colour vision, and good hand-eye coordination.
Physically fit.
Good communication skills.

Upholsterers

What does Upholstery involve?

Upholsters add padding and soft covers to furniture. They work with design, texture and colour to cover or re-cover items with fabric or other materials. They may also repair furniture.

There are generally two types of upholsterer, production and craft. In some factories they may specialise in one aspect, e. g. padding sofa arms, in others they complete entire items.

Upholsterers may work on sections of volume-produced furniture, build furniture for special purposes, re-create the style of a certain era in history or restore antiques, or renovate and repair by replacing old and damaged upholstery.

Hours and environment

Upholsters generally work in workshops but occasionally they may be required to work in client's homes, often with interior designers.

They normally stand to work on pieces of furniture that are normally located on the floor, benched or trestles.

Personal requirements

Ability to perform manual tasks.
Normal colour vision.
Able to work neatly and accurately, often at speed.
An interest in making quality furniture.
Interest in fashion and style.
Basic mathematical ability.
Customer service skills.
An eye for detail.
Free from allergies to dust.

Wood Machining

What does Wood Machining involve?

Wood Machinists manufacture furniture and components using machinery to perform precision tasks. They set up, operate and maintain woodworking machines such as planers, moulders, lathes, routers and saws to cut plane, shape and sand all types of wood components to the right shape and size. These components are then fitted together by other trade's people to make desks, chairs, beds, cabinets, boxes and most other items made of wood.

Wood Machining Whilst most of the work is done by machine, hand tools and manually operated machines are still used.

Hours and environment

Wood Machinists usually work in well-lit workshops. Ear protection is required. Dust extraction draws wood dust and chips off machines. Machines have safety guards fitted at all times.

Most wood machining is performed standing, with frequent bending and movement when setting and operating machinery.

Personal requirements

Ability to perform manual tasks.
Good eyesight.
Able to carry out basic mathematical calculations.
Aptitude for using machinery.
Capable of understanding written instructions.
Free from allergies to dust.
Able to work to a high level of accuracy.

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