A Weekend of Inspiration and Connection
We recently had the absolute pleasure of hosting our second Woodworking and Gender seminar ‘Carving Change’, and what an incredible experience it was! Despite the challenges brought by flooding across the country, participants travelled from near and far to be with us, bringing energy, insights, and passion to help shape the future of furniture making industries. We’re still buzzing from the amazing feedback and the sheer joy of connecting with such a thoughtful and inspiring crowd.
The weekend was filled with powerful moments. We heard from incredible speakers, including Camilla McLean and Greg Stone (Matthew Cox), Brogan Cox (Sebastian Cox Furniture) and Duncan Doig (Doig Furniture), who shared valuable insights about creating meaningful change in the industry. Phoebe Oldfield, Lynn Jones, Katy Thompson, and Tereza Kupcikova shared their truly inspiring journeys of challenges, successes, and perseverance.
The workshops sparked deep conversations, exploring cultural change in workshops, pathways in education, industry structures, and recruitment challenges. Together, we delved into the pressing questions about what drives people to enter, leave or stay in the sector and how we can build workplaces where everyone feels valued and supported.
The participation was incredibly impactful. Attendees shared personal experiences, offered unique perspectives, and worked collaboratively to identify key priorities for the next three years of the Woodworking and Gender Project. It was clear from the conversations and the feedback we received that the seminar resonated deeply, providing a much-needed space to come together, share, and plan for a better future.
Another exciting moment was the launch of our new website: gender-project.sylva.org.uk. This platform will be a hub for resources, including training opportunities, mentorship programmes, events, and access to our research and the 2024 sector survey.
Speaking of the survey—it’s now live, and we’re inviting everyone in the woodworking and furniture-making industry to participate. Whether you’re a sole trader, educator, student, or part of a larger company, your input is vital to shaping how we engage with education and industry in the coming years. Together, we can work towards a woodworking and furniture sector where everyone has the opportunity to build fulfilling and sustainable careers.
We are so grateful to everyone who attended ‘Carving Change.’ Their commitment, openness, and care for this community are what make events like this so special. Thank you to everyone who has joined us on this journey. We can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve together in the years to come!
