So here we are, approaching the end of 2025 – and what a year it’s been! Here’s a wrap of everything we have achieved this year!
Download the PDF version of our 2025 wrap here
We had a fantastic start to the year with an exciting National Apprenticeship Week (we are already thinking about 2026!) inviting Adam Thompson MP to our training centre and showing him how to make his very own footstool, and launching our new Furniture Finisher course.
May was an exciting month, confirming our associated membership of The Long Eaton Guild of Furniture Manufacturers and taking part in the Long Point Show, as well as talking about our Floorlaying apprenticeship at INDX Flooring event with FITA. We also started a floorlaying community project, replacing the floor in a local rugby clubhouse.
The excitement continued in June with a sponsored session by Clockwork Components, and the donation of new tooling to our upholstery department, and a huge highlight of the year at the CFA’s Apprentice of the year competition – with WEBS x FITA apprentices Daniel Mee and Sam Shetliffe achieving first and second place respectively. Incredible!! The month finished with another (less serious) win, with Team WEBS winning the mixed team Tug of War, in the first fundraiser for the newly established Midlands Region for Furniture Makers Company.
The autumn was full of activity, with autumn Long Point show and more industry involvement by presenting at the BFA’s HR Forum. We launched a fantastic new apprenticeship programme, Floorsight, with F. Ball and FITA, and hosted our first ever Apprentice Showcase – supported by Erewash Borough Council we were able to invite people to view work at Long Eaton Town Hall and talk to them about apprenticeships.
Our Floorlaying provision continued to be recognised, being awarded for being the training provider of the CFA Apprentice of the Year, and shortly after being shortlisted for the National Flooring Awards. We are thrilled to have made it so far, and can’t wait for the final in January!
Coming to the end of the year, we had apprentices’ work displayed at the Classic Motor Show on Rembrance Sunday, and apprentice Roy Fletcher reach the final of the BWF Awards in their Rising Star category. We also received some incredible industry presence where we were acknowledged at the BFC conference with parliament, and we are incredibly proud that we have been confirmed to give a seminar at the BFA’s Furniture Component Expo in March.
All of this, along with industry features in Big Furniture Group Magazine, Furniture News, and Guild of Master Craftsmen, has made 2025 a wonderful year of momentum and achievement. Not to mention the two WEBS weddings!
We are incredibly proud of all of our team who work tirelessly to deliver the very best they can for WEBS and the apprentices we train.
But that’s enough about WEBS’ achievements – our apprentices have also achieved fantastic things.
We have seen 77 complete their apprenticeships this year with over three quarters achieving distinction – an incredible result. Our partnership with Wickes is continuing to flourish, with Wickes having more apprentices on their installation programme than ever, and we are proud to support them as they develop the next generation.
Our apprentices have been shortlisted for awards, taken part in community projects and industry events, and have created some wonderful pieces of work. We have loved completing several apprentice spotlights and look forward to continuing this with more of our amazing apprentices in the new year.
And a huge mention to all of the employers who have chosen WEBS as their training provider – we love what we do, and literally could not do it without you.
So, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
Here’s to 2026!
