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28th January 2021

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SMWF celebrates National Apprenticeship Week with award presented by MP

Smallbone & Mark Wilkinson Furniture has marked National Apprenticeship Week with an inaugural apprenticeship award. Rt Hon Claire Perry, Member of Parliament for the Devizes Constituency, presented the award to Kyle Smith (pictured right with runners-up) at a ceremony held at the Smallbone workshop in Devizes last week.

The award was established to nurture the next generation of furniture makers and is open to all apprentices undertaking the apprenticeship programme with SMWF.

Kyle Smith's dressing table was chosen as the winner based on the function and aesthetics of Kyle's design as well as the quality of the original CAD drawing, his written work and the ability to work to deadlines.

Claire Perry said: "It was a pleasure and honour to be part of the award ceremony today, ahead of National Apprenticeship Week. Local businesses like Smallbone are such a vital and vibrant part of our community, providing jobs and supporting the next generation of skilled workers and I am very proud that SMWF craftsmanship from Devizes is so highly regarded across the world."

Executive chairman Ian Gray added: "Congratulations to Kyle Smith, he is a worthy winner. This award recognises those, like Kyle that have excelled and sets a benchmark for those that follow.

"We are extremely proud of the programme and our commitment to maintaining traditional craftsmanship and furniture making skills. With three generations of furniture maker in the Devizes workshop, we hope this award will help us to maintain this tradition."

Kyle wins a handcrafted award along with a cash prize of £1,000. Two Runner up awards were made to Josh Scott for his shoe cupboard and Harley Woodman for his chest of drawers. They both received a highly-commended certificate and gift voucher.

The three finalists were selected from 13 entries, judged by; senior SMWF designer- Jai Godwin, SMWF special projects director- Iain O'Mahony and SMWF senior R&D carpenter - Andy Saunders, along with John Gibson- managing director at national training provider, Didac.

www.mwf.com / www.smallbone.co.uk

15th March 2019