As its name suggests, the British Furniture Confederation (BFC) is an alliance of furniture trade associations which come together to discuss what’s taking place in the industry – specifically in the context of lobbying on behalf of the industry in Whitehall, Parliament and Europe. As the association plans its approach for 2018, Furniture News takes a closer look at its background and activities …
The BFC’s mission is “to sustain a strong and influential dialogue with Government, ensuring that its policies support a thriving UK furniture industry”.
The group was formed in 2006/7 in response to a clear message from what was then the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI – now the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) that it wanted to deal with fewer trade organisations – or only with a lead organisation for each sector.
It therefore made sense for the furniture industry associations to get together, identify matters of common interest and to make representations to and inform UK and EU governments on behalf of the UK furniture industry.
The BFC members are: the British Contract Furnishing Association (BCFA); the National Bed Federation (NBF); the British Furniture Manufacturers Association (BFM); the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA); the Leisure and Outdoor Furniture Association (LOFA); and The Furniture Makers’ Company.
Those associations’ directors are all directors of the BFC and sit on its executive board. The Furniture Makers Company provides an impartial chairman – currently its former master Jonathan Hindle, MD of KI Group. There are also ties with the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF) and Anti-Copying In Design (ACID).
At roughly the same time as the BFC’s founding – and at the instigation of the confederation - the All Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group (APPFIG) was formed within the Government. Since 2010, it has been chaired by Stephen McPartland, MP for Stevenage. The two work closely together on issues, the APPFIG providing much-needed access to the heart of Government.
In addition, the BFC employs the services of a specialist political consultancy - Brevia – which acts as secretary to the APPFIG and assists the BFC in arranging meetings with Government ministers, opposition spokespersons and others.
What does the BFC do?
Over the years, the BFC has raised many industry issues with government, both in London and in Brussels. Questions have been asked in the House of Commons, letters to ministers written, meetings with ministers attended, petitions presented to Number 10, and events held and attended – including, in 2012, a week-long exhibition of British furniture in the Houses of Parliament, seen by many hundreds of MPs, peers and civil servants.
In 2016, the BFC produced its first manifesto, which clearly identified the organisation’s key objectives, and was based on responses to a survey of each trade association’s members. The survey focused on the likely impact on the industry resulting from the Brexit process, and many issues came to light – including the reliance on skilled labour from overseas, and how Brexit might affect design law and standards.
The manifesto highlights four key areas on which the BFC has pledged to actively campaign: skills and apprenticeships; trade and exports; flammability; and environment and the circular economy.
The BFC board meets around four times a year and agrees a programme of action at each meeting. To give a flavour of how this pans out, here is a summary of some of the activities of the past year:
* The APPFIG AGM was held at Westminster in October 2016. This also provided an opportunity for senior industry executives to learn from Greg Hands MP, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, about the Government’s commitment to increasing the UK’s exports to £1t by 2020.
* Considerable technical and political effort was invested in the progression of the re-write of the Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations (FFFSR). In the light of continued procrastination from BEIS and Government, the BFC, after consultation with a large number of key stakeholders, submitted its own workable version of the regulations in the summer of 2017. A response has still not been received.
* A meeting was held with BEIS officials to communicate the findings of the above consultations.
* There was a continued push for greater clarity of export support and TAP funding through meetings and representations with UKTI and the Trade Alliance.
* A watching brief has been maintained on sustainability, end-of-life and the circular economy, and there has been greater involvement in applicable consultations and standards associated with these important business functions. In particular, the BFC has kept itself informed on European lobbying for the removal of flame retardants from furniture.
* Representations to Government were made due to industry concerns about the impact that the latest education policies would have on the availability of design and technology qualifications, which are the cornerstones for many who would wish to progress a career in furniture manufacturing.
* A detailed response was submitted to the Government’s Green Paper consultation on Building our Industrial Strategy.
* The industry formed FIESTA – the Furnishing Industry Education Skills and Training Alliance - and the BFC agreed to support this organisation at a political level.
* A quick response to concerns about shattering glass in furniture was published in response to TV and press scares.
* The 2017 meeting and AGM of the APPFIG - which needed to be reformed subsequent to the 2016 General Election - took place in September at the House of Commons, and was well attended by industry leaders, trading standards and MPs. Speakers included Lord Toby Harris, chairman of the National Trading Standards Board, and Erica Sheward from the Regulatory Delivery team at BEIS, which oversees Primary Authority Partnerships with regional trading standards authorities.
They addressed some of the issues facing both industry and enforcers in fighting back against a rising tide of rogue traders – particularly the new challenges presented by ecommerce – and described the benefits of working together through direct and co-ordinated Primary Authority Partnerships.
The BFC currently preparing a new survey of its associations’ members to update its view on key issues of concern. The results will be used to update the BFC’s manifesto and inform specific actions to be taken on its pledges. A busy year is anticipated!
