Spa college lecturer joins Worshipful Company

A lecturer at Royal Leamington Spa College has been chosen as one of only eight new Freemen of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers.

Jamie Ward, from Warwick, who has been the course leader for Furniture Crafts at Royal Leamington Spa College for seven years, was made a Freeman at a special admissions ceremony at Furniture Makers’ Hall in London.

The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers was founded as a guild in 1951 and granted Livery 12 years later. It aims to support the highest standards of design, manufacturing, marketing and retailing of all types of furniture and furnishing throughout the United Kingdom.

Jamie said: “It was a real honour to be recognised by the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers in this way. Becoming a Freeman is a real endorsement of the work we have done to raise the profile of furniture crafts both at the college and in the wider community.

"It will give me great opportunities to connect and network with industry leaders and ensure that we are delivering the right skills to our students so they can succeed in the professional world.”

At the ceremony, the Master, Paul von der Heyde, said: “It is heartening to see so many new faces joining from a wide cross section of the furnishing industry.  We look forward to them becoming involved in Company activities and value their exceptional skills and experience.”