On 30th November 2016, BFM representatives met with Jude Brindle, GMB Manufacturing Secretary and Paul Weekly, GMB Executive officer.  A discussion was held concerning the ambitions of the IM-Future project.  The employers were represented by Tom Ellis, Joint Managing Director of Ellis Furniture, Nick Garratt, Managing Director of  Ercol Furniture and Mike Dimond, BFM Director of Employment and Membership Affairs.  The GMB represent 629,000 workers in the UK and is one of its main sectors is furniture manufacturing.