It’s the end of term for our professional course students.

We’ll shortly announce who our prize-winning students were.

The class of 2018/19 made some exceptional furniture, and we’ll look again at some of the very best pieces over the summer.

We’re also pleased that a number of our graduates are staying on in incubation space at the school.

This allows successful graduates to start their own businesses while still having full access to our equipment and tutor support.

It’s proved so popular with graduates that we’re busy extending capacity and installing new workbenches and equipment.

We’ve also gone further, with the renowned woodworker Ben Dawson (pictured) joining the Chippendale team to help support our graduates.

Ben has an international reputation, has won many awards, with a career that spans five decades.

Alan McGovern

Also supporting our incubation graduates is Alan McGovern who has been with us for 35 years.

Alan is also head tutor for our one-month intermediate course, which was only introduced last year and is proving to be immensely popular.

It’s all part of our commitment to give students more than a comprehensive training in furniture design and making.

For example, we back that up professional training with help and advice on marketing and business planning.

Then, after graduation, we provide workshop space for students to step straight into professional woodworking.

And if they need help and advice, Alan and Ben are on hand to help.

It adds up to a holistic and realistic educational approach, that doesn’t just end when the course ends.

It means that students leave us with both the woodworking and business skills to make great furniture and a good future for themselves,

We believe in our students and we invest in helping them succeed.

That, in a nutshell, is the Chippendale difference.

Picture (main): our graduating students.