Furniture Component Expo 2026

On the 12th March 2026, a few of our staff attended the Furniture Component Expo in Telford. As part of the expo, there was a panel discussion hosted by Hannah Hockley, which focused on apprenticeships within the furniture and wood manufacturing sector.

Our Furniture and Wood Manager, Jack Sirl, represented the training provider perspective, discussing some of the current skills gaps in the industry, how the apprenticeship process works for employers, and the support that training providers offer beyond just delivering the qualification. The panel also covered some of the common misconceptions employers can have about apprenticeships and the challenges businesses face when developing their workforce.

Alongside Jack, one of our very own learners also took part in the panel and shared their experience of choosing the apprenticeship route, how their training links to their day-to-day role, and the support they have received from both their employer and training provider, Didac.

Representatives from Ercol Furniture Ltd also contributed to the discussion, sharing the employer’s perspective on why they invest in apprenticeships, how they recruit apprentices, and the impact apprentices have made within their business. Their completed apprentice also spoke about their experience, including the learning curve when starting and what the End Point Assessment process was like from an apprentice’s perspective.