Senator Group’s Colin Mustoe honoured with lifetime achievement award

The Furniture Makers’ Company, the City of London livery company and charity for the furnishing industry, has presented Colin Mustoe MBE with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the office furniture sector of the British furnishing industry. The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually to a leader who has devoted their life to the furtherment of the furnishing industry and left an indelible mark on the trade.

Colin was presented the award by the Rt Hon the Lord Mayor, Honorary Liveryman, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, and Brian Ahern, the new Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, at Mansion House, London on Monday 13 May 2024.

Colin’s long career in the office furniture sector started at the age of 17, initially in London and then at Darwen in Lancashire, where he set up his own company Kingsway Contracts in 1976. This later became the Senator Group and in the intervening years has grown into the largest UK office furniture manufacturer, with its four brands of Senator, Allermuir, Torasen and Teal widely known internationally and currently employing over 1500 people globally. It remains an independent, family-owned business, still in Lancashire, and now with Colin’s son Robert in charge.

Brian Ahern, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “Colin has long been an enthusiastic advocate of young people entering the manufacturing industry and is a regular supporter of local colleges, as well as setting up the Blackburn Youth Zone and helping with other local charities. He is also chairman of the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Show. In 2017 he was awarded an MBE for services to manufacturing and charity in north west England. This evening we are delighted to add further recognition by presenting him with a Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Commenting on the award, Colin said: “I am very proud to accept this award from The Furniture Makers’ Company. The last 40 years have been very exciting watching the company grow. My son, Robert, is committed to moving the company forward and the key to that growth is continual investment in product design, development and control of the manufacturing process.”