Excellence in design, materials and craftsmanship form the foundation of our range, producing contemporary classics in a sustainable way that will last several lifetimes.

Our furniture is handmade by craftsmen at Benchmark’s workshop in West Berkshire. The designs are exclusive to us and have been developed with leading designers including Shin and Tomoko Azumi, Terence Conran, Thomas Heatherwick, Russell Pinch and Kay + Stemmer. Additionally there are pieces by up and coming young designers.

The collection is sold direct to customers from our showroom, by mail order or through the website at prices direct from the workshop. We provide a high level of individual service and encourage customers to visit the showroom and workshop to see the furniture being made from start to finish

CONSIDERATE MANUFACTURING
Sustainability is central to our business both in terms of what we make and how we make it. This has been the case since Benchmark was founded twenty four years ago. As a result of this long term commitment we have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development,  the first furniture maker to receive this prestigious accolade.

Our furniture is made from certified timbers and locally sourced materials.  We are exceptional among furniture makers in having Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) certification.

We are constantly improving the environmental performance of our manufacturing by recycling waste to energy and reducing and reusing wherever possible. We believe that our values are good for the environment and are shared by our customers.

AUTHENTICITY
All the furniture is made in our workshops by skilled craftsmen. Once purchased, the individual item is stamped and logged as an authentic Benchmark original. Each piece we sell has a mark in the form of a discreetly fixed polished pewter disk. This is individually numbered and a record of the piece and the purchaser is kept in our register. Customers may have their own personal inscription up to 12 characters on the disk.

WHO WE ARE
In 1983 Terence Conran and Sean Sutcliffe set up Benchmark’s first workshop in a converted stable block on the site of a disused farm making prototypes and small batches of furniture for commercial and retail customers. As the company grew and the commissions became more challenging, other barns and farm buildings were renovated on the same site.

Today Benchmark is one of the most technologically advanced furniture makers in Britain with 3,500 square metres of workshop space. The company employs over 45 craftsmen and designers and has a renowned apprentice scheme to train young woodworkers in cabinetmaking and joinery.

COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS
Our contract business has undertaken commissions from architects, designers and private clients worldwide. We have designed, made and installed furniture and fittings for offices, restaurants, bars and hotels as well as a number of well-known public institutions and private homes.

We have supplied leading architects such as Norman Foster, Richard Rogers and Michael Hopkins. The high profile projects we have furnished include the Swiss Re Tower, Vodafone World headquarters as well as eco-driven organisations such as the National Trust and the Eden Project.

If you wish to know more about our contract work, please call 01488 658184 or email info@benchmarkfurniture.com to request a copy of our contracts brochure. You can also click here to see our commercial site