Royal furnishings and a service to the stars

Furnitureworks England, based at East Worthing Trading Estate, has been nominated for ‘overall business’, ‘small business’, ‘medium business’, ‘manufacturing and construction’ and ‘innovation’.

Doing everything from under one roof in Worthing, company director Kevin Baker said Furnitureworks is one of a handful of businesses in the UK that both designs and manufactures top-quality chairs, sofas and cabinets.

He said: “This is an incredible achievement in itself and there is no other firm quite like it.

“The company is relatively unheard of as it works in the background for the best designers in the UK who are almost all based in the design district of London,” Kevin said.

“We make the best products we can and proudly do this here in England.”

Established in 2005 from the ashes of an old chair frame business, which had fallen on hard times, Furnitureland now employs around 20 staff, many of whom receive in-house training in cabinet making, frame making, polishing and upholstery.

With a top-secret client list including royalty, actors, music and sports stars, as well as famous hotels and restaurants, Furnitureworks has continued to grow throughout the recession, taking around £1 million each year.

All profits have been reinvested into new equipment and there’s a strong desire to keep standards high using materials only from approved suppliers.

“Furnitureworks defies the trend of cheap and nasty furniture,” Kevin explained.

“The products it makes are all totally bespoke and renowned as the best in the world.

“I will not under any circumstances lower our standards or go down the ‘make it overseas’ option.

“Our products will outlast anything else on the market, they are beautifully made and give their owners a sense of pride.”