Matt Estlea

Matt works part time in Axminster's Basingstoke store. He is in his final year studying for a BA in Furniture Design and Make at Rycotewood Furniture Centre in Oxford. He specialises in making bespoke furniture such as cabinets, tables and chairs.

Hear how Matt got into the furniture industry and why it's his chosen career. Plus, the importance he places on social media, now and for the future of the industry, and how he approaches content creation.

Dr Lynn Jones

Dr Lynn Jones started her career designing contract furniture, following a four year BA degree at Nottingham Trent University.

Lynn is a passionate advocate of inspiring people to design, engineer and make things and has been working with funiture students for 25 years.

Lynn teaches part time at Rycotewood College in Oxford, whilst running her own business Lynn Jones Associates, helping furniture employers find good people and good furniture people secure work. Lynn has worked with and also placed graduates with leading companies such as Herman Miller, Vitra, Hands, Lago in Italy and Ercol.

Although Lynn’s specialism is in furniture, her talk will help anyone trying to find work after leaving school, college or university. She will share her wealth of knowledge on CV’s, portfolios, personal statements, employers, interviews and more.

The Furniture Makers' Company

Formed as a guild in 1952, established as a livery company of the city of London in 1963, and granted a royal charter in 2013, the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers has a long and colourful history. The charity supports everyone involved with the exciting, creative world of furniture including the student, designer, maker, business owner and retailer.

This is your chance to find out how The Furniture Makers’ Company can help you.

Numatic

Pete Simpson from the specialised product department at Numatic International has prepared some experiments to be performed live during his talk. He plans to use the experiments to demonstrate suction, airflow and the inspiration behind his own success at Numatic and his many product designs.

He will also give a history of Numatic and discuss the company's progression to becoming the UK's largest commercial cleaning equipment manufacturer.