Eight young professionals – all recognised as rising stars in the furniture and furnishings sector – have completed the prestigious Young Professionals Industry Experience (YPIE), a unique three-week tour of UK businesses organised by The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry.
The 2025 programme marks the second year since the initiative’s relaunch, and is one of the organisation’s flagship educational opportunities. It provides a select group of professionals with a comprehensive overview of the industry, covering everything from design and manufacturing to marketing, compliance, testing, sustainability and retail.
This year’s participants were: Sinéad Ambrose, a multidisciplinary designer maker currently studying furniture design and make at Rycotewood College; Jakub Jedlecki, a technical designer at Lanserring with a background in architecture; Carl-Henrik Andersson, a building surveyor at Fluent Architectural Design Services and the founder of Category Furniture, with a focus on sustainability and circular design; Daniel Edmunds, team leader at Dreams, with 14 years of industry experience and a passion for leadership and personal development;
Charlotte Ackroyd, head of manufacturing at HSL, who has spent over two decades with the business and is the business' first female in the role; Aamarah Noor, a self-employed designer and 2024 Young Furniture Makers (YFM) award winner, passionate about function and sustainability; Miles Clifford, a designer/maker and YFM winner whose craftsmanship is influenced by his training at Rowden Atelier and work with Marc Fish; and Jennifer Seastone, a sculptural bespoke furnituremaker based in London and 2024 Young Furniture Maker winner, with a background in fine art, sculpture, and theatre.
Over three weeks, the group visited 20 companies across the UK to explore the full spectrum of the furniture supply chain. Businesses opened their doors to deliver in-depth insights into design, component sourcing, production, marketing, customer service, and innovation.
Participating organisations included Anti Copying in Design (ACID), Blum UK, Colebrook Bosson Saunders, Designer Contracts, Dreams, Ercol, Ergochair, FIRA, G Plan, Halstock Cabinet Makers, Herman Miller, Hypnos, a masterclass with John Makepeace OBE, MillerKnoll, Panaz, Prima Foam, SATRA, Sleepeezee, The Furniture Ombudsman, and William Hands.
The experience concluded with a presentation lunch at Furniture Makers’ Hall in London on 17th July, where the participants shared reflections on their journey with supporters, industry leaders, and company hosts.
Debbie Johnson, master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, says: “The YPIE programme offers something truly rare – access, mentorship, and a panoramic view of what makes the UK furniture industry thrive. The 2025 cohort brought such energy, curiosity, and passion to the experience. We look forward to seeing how they take this learning forward in their careers.”
Aamarah Noor comments: “The experience gave me a broader understanding of how the industry operates – not just from a designer’s perspective, but across the wider business. Gaining a deeper understanding of how a product moves through each stage of the process was incredibly insightful. I’m leaving the programme feeling more informed, inspired, motivated, and better prepared to navigate the industry. I’ve also come away with stronger professional connections. I’d recommend this opportunity to other young professionals looking to gain meaningful, real-world industry experience.”
Carl-Henrik Andersson says: “I thought the programme was very successful in connecting me with the furniture industry, something I have found to be very valuable. It showed me different leading UK furniture manufacturers and showed me firsthand how the sector is tackling sustainability. I came away with a deeper understanding of circularity, data-driven innovation, and the complex relationship between financial growth and environmental responsibility.”
Jennifer Seastone says: “It was amazing that so many successful people took time out to really show us the insides of their businesses and what was important to them personally. It was also great meeting so many people pursuing different careers and learning about their processes.”
Sinéad Ambrose comments: “I really enjoyed meeting true professionals and gaining insight into how companies operate behind the scenes. Each company we visited offered something unique, and even when a business didn’t align directly with my personal career goals, I always found something valuable to take away.”
Pictured: Miles, Carl-Henrik, Sinéad, Aamarah, livery company master Debbie Johnson, Daniel, Jennifer and Jakub
