Top industry prize for furniture start-up

A former carpenter who turned to Sheffield Hallam University to develop his sustainable furniture design company has won a national design award.

Dan Schofield, 26, picked up the top prize in the furniture category of the New Design Britain Awards for his innovative 'Shifty' desk, which features a hidden draw.

Competition judges felt that Dan's work had 'huge commercial potential'.

The New Design Britain Awards recognise young design talent in the UK, highlighting innovative and ground-breaking work.

They are presented at the annual INTERIORS UK event, a forecasting show for the interiors industry.

Dan, who is originally from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, graduated from Sheffield Hallam with a first class degree in furniture design in 2011.

He set up his business at the University's Hatchery incubator, which provides young entrepreneurs with a low-risk environment to set up their business.

Since then, orders for his sustainable, "added value" furniture have come in from the Far East and Portugal and he has exhibited his creations at London Designers Week.

He is also selling his designs at Made North's design shop at Yorkshire Art Space on Shoreham Street, Sheffield.

His other pieces include Coat Eggs, which come complete in their own egg box and are used as an alternative to clothing pegs and What A Corker, a soft and pliable cork mirror, which is contemporary and eco-friendly. 

Dan, who is currently working on new designs, said: "It's incredible to have my work recognised in this way by other industry professionals.

"The exposure these awards can give my products will be vital to the continuing growth of my business.

"I've been using the Hatchery at the University for more than six months, which has given me an office space and access to a workshop, and has enabled me to get my business off the ground. It's been an invaluable experience."

The Hatchery offers free office facilities including access to hot-desks with PCs and Macs, Internet access and telephone lines, together with a flexible creative space to develop ideas and a meeting room. To find out more, call (0114) 225 3131 or email enterprise@shu.ac.uk

For press information contact: Tess Humphrys on 0114 225 4025 or email pressoffice@shu.ac.uk