We believe in the future of furniture and interiors.
We have been training apprentices in furniture manufacture since 1968 – starting from a local collection of furniture businesses in Long Eaton (the UK Centre of Quality Upholstery Manufacture), and surrounding areas, we have expanded to offering a variety of courses all over England and becoming an industry voice.
Our achievement rates are above the national average, which is a reflection on the quality training we deliver which goes above the basic requirements of the apprenticeship standard – as well as tailoring our training to cover the skills and knowledge required by the employer.
We don’t just provide training for the businesses we work with but offer a partnership with support and guidance.
WEBS may have been offering apprenticeships for over 50 years, but we also understand that an apprentice might not be what your business needs right now, but that you may still have some training requirements for your team.
"Whatever your training requirement, we understand what it means to train excellence in your business."
OUR MISSION
“To deliver the highest quality industry standard training, whilst being progressive and responsive to the needs of Local and National Employers and Apprentices.”
OUR VISION
“To be the provider of choice for employers and apprentices alike, across the furniture manufacturing and supporting allied industries sector.
Developing individual’s skills and behaviours to meet the highest of industry standards.”
OUR VALUES
A.S.P.I.R.E.
Aim for all to Aspire to be the best
Support all to Succeed
Promote Pride in all we do
Instil Inspiration and belief
Reward and Respect for all
Enable and Encourage progression
Achievement rates
The final validated achievement rates have now been published for 2024/25, where we have achieved above the national average for apprenticeship achievements.
- WEBS Training have an overall achievement rate of 69.1% vs 65.4% national achievement rate.
- Of those that completed end point assessment, over 75% achieved Distinction.
Accreditations, Awards, and Partnerships
OFSTED
We are Ofsted Good accredited, achieved in March 2024, following a visit in February 2024.
We are proud of this achievement, and receiving feedback such as:
“Apprentices learn from training officers with extensive industry experience. In workshops, trainers provide very helpful practical demonstrations.”
“Training officers structure the content of courses to meet apprentices’ and employers’ needs well.”
“Leaders and training officers create a safe environment, they are supportive and know their apprentices well. Apprentices feel able to try new things and make mistakes. They are keen to learn and push themselves to do well.”
Awards
For three consecutive years, WEBS Training have been shortlisted for industry awards:
• 2024 – On the Tools Awards – WINNER of Training Initiative of the Year
• 2025 – National Flooring Awards – Shortlisted for Training Provider of the Year
• 2026 – British Institute of Fitted Interiors Specialists (BIFIS Awards) – Our fitted interiors training officers were shortlisted for Community Champions of the Year
Our apprentices have also been successful for a number of awards, where WEBS apprentices have won:
• Contract Flooring Association Apprentice of the Year in both 2025 and 2026
• Apprentice of the Year in the Association of British Theatre Technicians Awards
• Apprentice of the Year in the 2025 National Flooring Awards
Along with being other apprentices being shortlisted at BWF Awards, Make UK Awards, BIFIS Awards, New Furniture Makers Competition.
Partnerships
FITA (Flooring Industry Training Association)
For our Floorlayer apprenticeship, we are supported by the Flooring Industry Training Association, who are the training arm of flooring industry body Contract Flooring Association, where the apprenticeship training takes place at their training centre in Loughborough, using their purpose built flooring booths.
Memberships
We are members of:
- British Furniture Association (supply member)
- The Guild of Master Craftsmen
We are associated members of:
- Erewash Partnership
- Long Eaton Guild of Upholsterers
We actively engage with the local authorities for their support for both apprenticeship further education and the furniture and interiors industries.
History
WEBS was founded in 1968 by a group of local upholstery and furniture companies (Wade Upholstery, Everest Furniture, Beauvale Furniture, and Gimson & Slater) to provide excellent training for their new apprentices. WEBS have since expanded to now offer courses across the country providing training nationally across small businesses to national brands.
In the mid-1980s the training centre moved to Beeston, where in 2012 WEBS built an extension to the centre with new workshop areas and teaching rooms.