The Silverlining Academy of Skills will generate 20 highly skilled jobs in Wrexham between now and 2024

Get the latest business news from across Wales

A furniture maker to the super-rich and famous celebrities like Madonna and David Bowie is starting its own skills academy as it experiences rapid growth and “unprecedented” enquiries.

Silverlining Furniture has announced the launch of The Silverlining Academy of Skills – a new training programme teaching “Ph.D. level” craftsmanship techniques.

The Academy is set to generate 20 highly skilled jobs locally between now and 2024, adding to Silverlining's 56 strong team.

It will initially be located at the HQ and workshop in Wrexham, before operating from a dedicated premises(also in Wrexham), based alongside a new inspirational design studio and a manufacturing centre of excellence.

The programme will provide theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice of 21st- century craftsmanship skills such as finishing, cabinet making, laser marquetry, CNC programming and operation and leatherwork.

Silverlining founder Mark Boddington said: “Launching an academy has always been a dream of mine.

“I had the great honour of starting my adventure in furniture making by training under John Makepeace OBE. at Parnham House in Dorset – it was one of the most rewarding and fulfilling times of my life. I’m passionate about young people and in fact, people of all ages who haven’t worked creatively before, to discover the magic of furniture-making.”

He added: “On a practical level, in the age of automation, finding skilled people with superior craftsmanship skills, can be very hard. We’ve tried hiring specialists from the automotive and watch industries, yet we found that the level of skill required at Silverlining is unparalleled.

“That’s why we’ve decided to grow a new generation of furniture-making talent ourselves, by providing jobs and training, teaching craftsmanship skills which are in high-demand, yet are quickly disappearing.”

Silverlining is renowned for its one-of-a-kind furniture pieces which combine time- honoured craftsmanship, with the latest technologies.

Mark added: “In addition, despite the other businesses experiencing a slowdown during the COVID pandemic, we are growing rapidly with unprecedented levels of enquiries and new projects, which require us to grow our specialist teams.”

The Academy is currently recruiting the first cohort to join the Finishing programme, starting in the summer of 2021.

The practical part of the training will be led by Steven Jones, who’s the Finishing Team Leader.

He will provide in-depth lacquering tuition – from spraying and cutting back, to building up coats and polishing the final lacquer layers.

Steven said: “Ultimately it is the finish that clients first notice and admire. With our finishing being at a ‘Ph.D.’ level we need to bring people through The Academy as our furniture quality is so exacting and innovative that outside training is simply not an option in the UK."

Stay in touch: BusinessLive newsletters have been re-designed to make them even better. We send morning bulletins straight to your inbox on the latest news, views and opinion. Get our breaking news alerts and weekly sector reviews too. Sign up now - it's free and it only takes a minute.

The project has the support of the Welsh Government.

Lesley Griffiths, Member of the Senedd for Rural affairs and North Wales, said: “Silverlining’s furniture is exceptional and world-renowned.

"The Academy will provide amazing opportunities for people to learn new skills for life, as well as enabling the Wrexham-based company to create many more highly rewarding jobs for the area.”