Since the Bridging the Gap conference in 2017, the Furniture and Interiors Education, Skills and Training Alliance has been working towards a solution that will enable furniture and interiors businesses of all sizes to easily train and recruit employees for all job functions.

Furniture and Interiors Skills Plus is a new service that will provide employers in our sector with access to a wide variety of funded training programmes for apprentices and the upskilling of existing staff.

We will be presenting this solution to industry in April and would like to see you there!

Ticket includes refreshments and lunch.

Conference programme

10.30am - 11.00am - Registration

11.00am - 11.20am - Welcome and review of the current situation since the publication of the Mind the Gap report in 2015. Gary Baker, managing director of CD (UK) Ltd and chairman of FIESTA.

11.20am - 12.00pm - Apprenticeships do work for employers an industry panel discussion exploring the myths, challenges and benefits for employers in recruiting and developing apprentices.

12.00pm - 12.30pm - The Skills Plus Solution. John Henry, managing director of the Apprentice Management Group, and Martin James, commercial director of Didac.

12.30pm - 1.00pm - Open Q&A session led by Gary Baker.

1.00pm - 2.30pm - Delegate 121s with Skills Plus, lunch and networking.