Manufacturing Guild Mark News

MGM NEWS ISSUE: TWO | SUMMER 2013

We’ve lots to tell you about in this, our second edition of MGM News. Firstly, congratulations to the winner and finalists of the second Sustainability Award.

This initiative grew from the MGM and is open only to MGM Holders and members of FISP. The standard of entry is high and we’re sure it will grow in importance over time.

We’re delighted to be welcoming two new Holders so far this year – with more in the pipeline. It’s obvious from this response that word is spreading about how having the MGM is desirable recognition of your efforts and determination to be among the best at what you do.

We’re convinced this is not only to do with us making more of an effort to raise awareness of the MGM but also the additional credibility that the introduction of third party audits has created.

One of the distinctive benefits of the MGM is that it is awarded to the company for overall excellence in manufacturing, not just to a specific product which might have a finite shelf life or limited distribution.

And it’s got to be said, that livery company coat of arms will certainly impress overseas customers. It’s right up there with the Royal Warrant – and as far as we’re aware, that’s not backed by a thorough audit of all your operations, either.

SENATOR NAMED WINNER OF 2013 SUSTAINABILITY AWARD Office furniture manufacturer Senator International has been named winner of the 2013 Furniture Makers’ Sustainability Award.

The award, now in its second year, is the brainchild of MGM Committee member Oliver Heal and is only open to holders of the MGM and members of the Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme (FISP)*. Its main aim is to recognise the progress being made to reduce the impact on the environment of furniture manufacturing in Britain Senator beat off stiff competition from three other shortlisted companies – MGM Holder Hypnos Beds, Premiere Kitchens and Community Playthings.

All the finalists were able to demonstrate they had made significant progress during the year to improve sustainability across all aspects of their businesses, but Senator stood out “for its thoroughness, progress in the last year, width of activity, leadership in this area of the industry, ability and willingness to push boundaries and for its real understanding of the value of sustainability in its business,” said Charles Vernon, immediate Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers and chairman of the panel of judges. continued overleaf...

We Welcome Two New Holders

Bruce Lovell of FIRA congratulates Virginia Seaward, Boss Design on a successful audit for the MGM award

We’re delighted to welcome two companies to our very exclusive fraternity. They are Boss Design and The Quality Furniture Company – widely different types of business targeting widely different marketplaces but both sharing a common vision of excellence in British manufacturing – which is exactly what the MGM seeks to recognise.

Boss Design is one of the first companies to be assessed under new, revised criteria and a new system of assessing eligibility via a third party audit, conducted on behalf of The Furniture Makers by FIRA.

“Pride doesn’t begin to cover the way we feel at Boss for being honoured with the highly recognised Manufacturing Guild Mark,” says operations manager Virginia Seaward. “Accolades of this nature remind us that being a responsible, continued overleaf...

SENATOR NAMED WINNER OF 2013 SUSTAINABILITY AWARD , “This award is an acknowledgement from the whole furniture industry of Senator’s achievements, and will only lead to us increasing our efforts in this field, to remain at number one,” said Paul Clarke, Senator’s commercial director. “We take our sustainability responsibilities very seriously.

Sustainable practices are woven into every aspect of our business, to minimise any negative impact on the environment.

The establishment of a recycling division and FISP membership proved to be the catalysts that enabled us to ‘internally offset’ the carbon generated through the utilities used in all our production processes.”

More about the four finalists of the 2013 Sustainability Award One of the UK’s leading office furniture manufacturers, Senator International, based in Accrington, Lancashire, puts sustainability at very heart of the company, with the objective of ‘internally offsetting’ its carbon footprint of production. Persistence has reduced the amount of waste going to landfill from 65% to 8%. In 2012 Senator recycled 1,200 tonnes of waste that would previously gone to landfill; 470 tonnes of packaging from customers and suppliers as well as from its own factories were recycled and over 200,000 items of packaging were re-used. Three recycling centres are operated which handled 51,000 items of furniture and a re-manufacturing division has been set up. Senator recently achieved accreditation to ISO 50001, an internationally recognised energy management standard, the first FISP member to obtain this distinction.

Gloucester-based Premiere Kitchens specialises in making kitchens for local authorities and housing associations and was a worthy finalist for the second time this year. It is evident that the commitment to improving sustainability is firmly anchored at the heart of this medium sized manufacturer. Its systematic approach to reducing energy consumption and waste had made considerable cost savings and improved the bottom line. For example skip costs had been reduced by 96% and energy saving investments are

Senator’s Paul Hobson (centre) receives the Sustainability Award from past winner Orangebox’s Luke Palmer and the Furniture Makers chief executive Jonny Westbrooke David Walton, chair of FISP and also one of the judges said: “The standard of entry was extremely good last year but this year even that was exceeded.

It is very good to see that companies are pushing back the boundaries on sustainability and making real cost effective improvements as a result.

Companies within FISP are no longer satisfied with a level of performance that just meets the requirements of ISO14001, they are now looking at new, novel approaches to sustainability that are beginning to have a real business impact.“

forecast to produce significant annual cost reductions.

Much emphasis is placed on sourcing suppliers locally who are all subject to an annual environmental review.

Residual ash from its biomass burner has been declared landfill safe and is now being used by a local farmer as fertiliser supplement, thereby completing the ecological cycle.

MGM Holder Hypnos Beds, with factories in Princes Risborough, Bucks and Long Eaton, Notts, also reduced the number of skips used by 96% (and therefore the corresponding amount of waste going to landfill). Employee involvement in cutting waste is a key part of the ‘Hypnos Vision & Values’ which seeks to develop a positive working culture within the business.

Its efforts have been recognised as it is the first UK bed manufacturer to achieve BS PAS 2060 Carbon Neutrality Standard. A review and re‑design of products has enabled it to completely eliminate the use of foam within mattresses.

But perhaps its most outstanding initiative was the setting up of The Furniture Recycling Company which provides a national collection, disposal and recycling service for beds, upholstered furniture and wooden furniture.

Community Playthings, based in Robertsbridge, East Sussex, is a manufacturer of furniture and play equipment for primary schools. Notable events during the year were certification of the Quality Management System to ISO 9001 and the Environmental Management System to ISO 14001. An original aspect of this company’s approach is the installation of factories at the heart of their communities. A good example of how to significantly reduce packaging costs through redesign was cited that had produced a corresponding reduction in damage in transit, lost packages and incorrect deliveries.

We Welcome Two New Holders , productive and sustainable manufacturer is a continuous journey. Being audited and recognised for what we do will allow us to continually remain innovative and sharing the belief to deliver only responsible manufacturing practices.”

Founded in 1983, Boss Design is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of high quality office seating, upholstery and tables, and enjoys global success within this design-led sector.

Boss Design

Now employing more than 200 people across the globe, the company leads by example and aims for continuous improvement on the delivery of an intelligent and evolving portfolio, while maintaining the best ethical standards.

The Quality Furniture Company started in 1993 and has grown to become one of the largest upholstery manufacturers in the UK with over 200,000sq ft of manufacturing space, and some 350 employees. It focuses on supplying own brand furniture to a limited number of highly Bruce Lovell from FIRA successful national retailers and, congratulates QFC’s chief conscious that it is the custodian executive Vernon Goldberg of those retail brands and trusted by them, it has a very simple vision that underpins all its activities – a passion for excellence and to be recognised by all its customers as their best supplier.

“Being awarded the Manufacturers Guild Mark is an independent seal of approval for the way we do things here at QFC,” says chief executive Vernon Goldberg. “It’s terrific that all the people here who are doing such a good job have got this independent recognition for their efforts; plus it’s a satisfying third party endorsement of our overall quality of business for our existing customers; and doubtless it will do us no harm in attracting new ones!”

Our New Advert for 2013 We adapted last year’s advert a little for 2013. We hope you like it. So far it’s been seen in FX Magazine’s May issue, in Blueprint’s June issue and in Cabinet Maker’s 17 May issue – plus a banner appeared on the CM website daily throughout May and June.

We’ve also had a full page editorial feature in Furniture News (April issue); with another due in Cabinet Maker in July – and of course news coverage of the sustainability award and new holders.

Budget permitting, we plan to be back in FX, Blueprint and CM back in September.

Chalon turns audit inspection into a You Tube success!

New MGM Committee chairman We’re delighted to announce that Jessica Alexander has agreed to take on the chairmanship of the MGM Committee. Alex Wyllie has stepped down to be vicechairman until the end of 2013.

Many of you will know Jessica already as she has been involved in the furniture industry all her working life – she refuses to say how long that is now! Currently she is executive director of the National Bed Federation, a member of the FIRA Council, on the Executive of the British Furniture Confederation and she still finds time to oversee her marketing and PR agency, Alexander King Associates, which has worked with many furniture companies over the year, including our own charity, FIT. Jessica has been helping the MGM with their marketing and publicity over the past few years.

“Alex has done a fantastic job in the past couple of years, focussing on strengthening the MGM with the introduction of audits, a review of membership criteria and a real drive to identify companies we feel should be considering applying for the MGM. I hope to build on what he has started and continue spread the word of the value of the MGM and to add to that value.”

Well done to Chalon, which has turned its recent MGM re-audit into a You Tube show! We’re always delighted to hear of how Holders make the most of their award. You can see the show for yourself if you search for Chalon Kitchens on You Tube.

WHO’S WHO ON THE MGM COMMITTEE Here’s the line-up of the MGM Committee for 2013-14: Jessica Alexander, director AKA PR and National Bed Federation, MGM committee chairman Ben Burbidge, chairman, Burbidge & Son David Dewing, director, Geffrye Museum, first assistant and Guild Mark chairman Paul von der Heyde, senior warden Alan Marshall, director, Blue Line Office Furniture

Patrick Pattison, managing director, Homestore Interiors Phil Reynolds, chief operating officer, FIRA Peterjohn Statham, managing director, Momentum Jim Stewart, senior lecturer, Buckinghamshire New University Alex Wyllie, director Wyllie & Mar retailers, MGM committee vice chairman

The Furniture Makers, Furniture Makers’ Hall, 12 Austin Friars, London EC2N 2HE T 020 7256 5558 | F 020 7256 5155 assistant@furnituremakers.org.uk | furnituremakers.org.uk