Woodworking & Gender Survey 2024 Report – now available!
We are thrilled to announce that the Woodworking & Gender Sector Survey 2024 report is now available for download!
First and foremost, a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in this year’s survey. Their insights, experiences, and perspectives were invaluable in helping us gain a clearer picture of gender representation in the UK furniture industry.
This year, we took a broader approach to data collection compared to our 2023 survey. Instead of focusing primarily on employers, we reached out across the entire sector—welcoming responses from employees, sole traders, students, educators, workshop assistants, and senior executives alike. By engaging with a wide range of voices, we were able to paint a more detailed and accurate picture of the challenges, opportunities, and experiences shaping the industry today.
The results confirm what many already know: workplace culture plays a huge role in whether people feel they can thrive in the industry. Many respondents spoke about the importance of inclusive and supportive workshop environments, there are still too many reports of bias, exclusion, and barriers to career progression. Education and training emerged as another key issue, with students and recent graduates struggling to access hands-on experience and meaningful career pathways. Respondents expressed a preference for making over design but found few opportunities to turn that passion into a sustainable career.
Employers who already took steps towards diversity and inclusion reported positive impacts, but many small businesses still feel unsure about how to recruit and retain a diverse workforce. Financial constraints, a lack of representation, and limited career guidance continue to be major barriers for women, trans and non-binary individuals looking to enter or remain in heritage woodworking or furniture making careers.
Despite these challenges, the survey also highlighted promising solutions. Many respondents called for clearer career pathways, including accessible apprenticeships, paid internships, and funding opportunities. There was also a strong desire for cultural change in workshops, aided by better policies to tackle discrimination and biases, as well as mentorship networks to support career development. Increasing visibility of marginalised genders in the industry was another key theme, with calls for more representation of underrepresented makers in industry events, social media, and educational initiatives to help inspire the next generation.
To explore these findings in detail the full report is now available for download.
