News

Women in furnishing awards - the winners

Tean Dallaway, the group finance director instrumental in reversing the fortunes of the Airsprung Furniture Group, has been named ‘Businesswoman of The Year’ in the first ever Women In Furnishing Awards.

The title of ‘Inspirational Woman of the Year’ goes to Wendy Shorter of Wendy Shorter Interiors for changing the face of training and qualification standards in the upholstery and soft furnishings sector.

The winners were announced at an awards luncheon held at Furniture Makers’ Hall (on Thursday June 3) in central London. In addition to the two main awards, a further surprise presentation – a Lifetime Achievement Award – was made to Norma Kerry, md of Parker and Farr.

“Some truly outstanding women from right across the furnishing sector were nominated for the awards,” said Manchester Furniture Show boss Theresa Raymond. It was her idea to hold the awards and Theresa has worked with the Furnishing Industry Trust (FIT, formerly the FTBA) to organise the awards and luncheon from which all profit will go to the trust.

Other finalists to be honoured at the awards were:

  • Publisher Joanne Miller, co-owner of Interiors Media, who established a leading trade title for the interiors sector despite launching it in the depths of a recession
  • Helen Williams of the Assessment and Training Company (Adrian Vaughan) who started out as ‘one of the boys’ working as a flooring fitter and worked her way up

Said Mark Symes, md of Willis & Gambier, sponsors of the WIF ‘Businesswoman of The Year Award’: “Unlike some other sectors, the furnishing industry still tends to be a fairly male dominated environment. Holding the awards has been a fantastic opportunity to turn the spotlight onto the increasing number of very talented and high achieving women who now work in the trade and hopefully these awards will act as inspiration to women within the industry as they develop their careers ”

Paul von der Heyde, md of Kinnarps UK Ltd, which sponsored the WIF ‘Inspirational Woman of The Year Award’ commented: “Highlighting the success of women who have done well in the industry can only serve to inspire and encourage more women to come forward. They can and are doing well in the furnishings sector, especially, I’m delighted to say, within Kinnarps itself! These awards are an excellent way to promote that fact and motivate others.”

At the luncheon The ‘Businesswoman of The Year Award’ was presented on behalf of Willis & Gambier by Sandra Nield. The ‘Inspirational Woman of The Year Award’ was presented by Paul von der Heyde of Kinnarps.

Next year’s Women In Furnishing Awards will be held on Thursday June 2 2011.

The Winners

  • Businesswoman of The Year: Tean Dallaway, group finance director, Airsprung Furniture Group – Just four years ago the Airsprung Group was making substantial losses and a refocus of activities was needed. Tean was able to clearly guide the company through a highly volatile period with strict financial disciplines based on a sound business understanding. Today the group is back in profit and fellow directors of the company have huge levels of confidence in her advice on all aspects of the business. Tean is also treasurer of the National Bed Federation and has, in the past 12 months, established a collective buying group that has conservatively saved NBF members upwards of £900k.
  • Inspirational Woman of The Year: Wendy Shorter of Wendy Shorter Interiors – After a fairly high profile career in the film industry Wendy re-trained as an upholsterer/soft furnisher and became Student of The Year at London Metropolitan University. Following this she established her own interiors business, became involved in training and following redundancy took the gamble of her life in establishing her own private training school. This has flourished and Wendy has gone on to represent the furnishings sector on a number of national bodies and organisations as well as becoming director of training for the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers. Wendy has been instrumental in developing and promoting nationally recognised qualifications for upholsterers and soft furnishers. Passionate about her industry she has also just had her first book – Soft Furnishings: The Complete Guide to Professional Results – published.
  • Lifetime Achievement Award: Norma Kerry, managing director, Parker and Farr Furniture Ltd (part of the JDP Furniture Group) – Norma started working at Parker and Farr as an office junior and by 1983 had become office manager. She was subsequently promoted to sales manager, sales director and then managing director. Not only has her dedication raised the profitability and awareness of the business, she has also raised morale across the company. Well known to many in the industry, Norma Kelly heads up a company in excellent shape and has succeeded in significantly raising its profile.