THE HISTORY OF THE COMPANY

The Furniture Makers’ Company is the furnishing industry’s charity as well as being one of 110 livery companies of the City of London

After its original formation as the Furniture Makers’ Guild in 1951, the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers (WCFM) was established on 29 March 1963 when the incumbent Lord Mayor personally presented to the Master the ‘Letters Patent’ making it the 83rd livery company of the City of London�

In 1975, in common practice with other livery companies, the WCFM established its own charity through which it channelled its charitable activities�

In 2005 the WCFM acquired Furniture Makers’ Hall in Austin Friars as its permanent home in the City

Much earlier, in 1903, the Furniture Trades Benevolent Association (FTBA) was formed and one of its first actions was to establish a children’s home� The FTBA continued as the main charity operating in the industry, assisting people who fell on hard times financially, and it was widely supported by the trade�

In 2008 it changed its name to the Furnishing Industry Trust (FIT), reflecting a more modern image and expanding its activities from providing welfare to assistance for training � It had for many years operated closely with the WCFM in their overlapping charitable activities, sharing both premises and staff, and at this time the roles of the clerk (a livery’s chief executive) to the WCFM and the chief executive of FIT were amalgamated �

In 2012 a full merger of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers’ charity and the Furnishing Industry Trust took place with the organisation becoming The Furniture Makers’ Company, the furnishing industry’s charity �

While the charitable activities were developing, the livery aspect of the Company continued to maintain its role in ensuring that its members supported the governance of the City, participated in major events, launched initiatives on behalf of the industry and fostered good fellowship�

In 2013 The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth II, giving recognition to the Company which was considered to be demonstrating stability, permanence and pre-eminence in its field while providing an exemplary degree of public service

In its short lifetime The Furniture Makers’ Company has developed rapidly to meet the needs of the industry and the aspirations of its membership and is seen as one of the most progressive livery companies of the City of London�

Structure And Governance Of The Company

Today, The Furniture Makers’ Company consists of three legal entities and the current governance structure is:-

1 The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers.

The Livery Company (‘the Corporate Fund’) is governed by the Court of Assistants

2 The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers’ Charitable Funds incorporating The Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association.

The Charitable Fund is governed by the trustees who are appointed by the Court�

3 Furniture Makers’ Company Limited (FMC)

FMC is governed by its directors who are appointed by the trustees of the Charitable Fund�

The Corporate Fund is a separate legal entity and is largely restricted to livery activity�

The Charitable Fund represents the bulk of the assets and accounts for all charitable activity and administration costs (except for costs associated with livery activity for which a charge is levied to the Corporate Fund)

FMC is a subsidiary of the Charitable Fund� It owns the hall and handles the associated activity such as rents and catering