From 1996 to 2009 the City Fringe Partnership delivered major initiatives to improve the prospects of residents and support London's small businesses.

  1. About the CFP
  2. Achievements
  3. Project case studies
  4. In pictures

Download CFP research on the area and key employment sectors, as well as sector investment plans and evaluation reports of its programmes.

  1. Research

CFP projects, project delivery partners and links to organisations at the heart of CFP activities.

  1. Projects and links

Achievements:

The legacy

  • £6.5 million digital innovation centre in the heart of the City Fringe.
  • Closer co-operation between designers and manufacturers.
  • Unlocked specialist technical expertise and facilities of London's higher education institutions.
  • Affordable workspaces at Metropolitan Works enabling business to co-locate at the heart of the furniture cluster.
  • 60 jobs safeguarded in an industry that had lost jobs in previous years.
Furniture maker

Public sector partnership to encourage innovation: Metropolitan Works

In 2005, the City Fringe represented 11% of all London furniture employment in inner London with some 360 businesses employing 4,360 people. Furniture making has been a traditional east London industry since the 1840s and the sector, particularly the design element, has mirrored the growth of the creative industries in the area.

The CFP ran a two-year programme to help transform the furniture manufacturing industry in the City Fringe into a world-class, competitive and high-value industry. The initiative incorporated manufacturers and a growing number of product designers from the area and was delivered by Hidden Art and Furniture Works (run by London Metropolitan University).

The CFP-supported Furniture Works programme encouraged businesses to break into new markets, working with them to establish new product collections at leading trade fairs. "Furniture Works has helped us open up a market that would have been difficult to break into…providing a viable route to market for our high-end furniture." explained Gregg Botterman, Director of I-Glass.

Incorporating design into the manufacturing process was identified by CFP research as key to stimulating growth in this sector. A bespoke new product development course gave furniture businesses experience of real-time product design and technology taster sessions encouraged innovation. Supply chain issues were addressed by Hidden Art's Innovative Routes to Market project, which supported designers work more effectively with manufacturers to create new products for sale.

CFP action research report mapped out a series of potential furniture business growth models. The research provides a basis for understanding how this sector is changing and the type of support it will require in the future.

Responding to the outcome of key UK research, including the Cox Review of Creativity in Business (2005), the CFP collaborated with public sector partners - the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now DCLG) and the European Regional Development Fund - to invest in a major new innovation centre for furniture and product designers in Tower Hamlets.

Metropolitan Works

The new £6.5 million Metropolitan Works digital innovation centre opened its doors in February 2009. With over £1.8 million coming from the CFP, the centre is set to be a major resource for the furniture and product design industry for years to come. Based at London Metropolitan University's Whitechapel campus, Metropolitan Works offers flexible high-spec workspaces, rapid prototyping and computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) facilities.

The centre provides specialist business support and affordable bureau services for local creative enterprises and encourages designers and manufacturers to try new equipment and new materials. Metropolitan Works will become a flagship centre for London's creative industries and promote the take up of new digital technology -helping to make high-value UK production more competitive on a global scale.