Investing in People

Our Employees and Makers

We are committed to nurturing a fulfilled, diverse workforce who love what they do to ensure that traditional craftsmanship survives into the next generation. We approach our work with compassion, kindness, and acknowledgment of all those whose hard work contributes to a thriving British business and the preservation of traditional skills. Our Work from Home policy offers flexibility and encourages a good work/life balance. Alongside regular product or skills-based training, we offer staff benefits designed to keep our people engaged and motivated. 

We continue to increase diversity within our workforce, and our sustainability taskforce has been exploring ways to widen the pool of talent for new hires.

We believe in fair access to employment and support Ban the Box to increase opportunities for people with convictions to compete fairly for jobs.

Every single one of our makers is based in the UK. We are committed to protecting their health and safety, and to paying fair wages as an accredited Living Wage Employer. This includes trainee apprentices from the moment they start to ensure we secure the future of craft in Britain. Preserving and promoting craft skills is at the heart of our mission. For example, our Leicester workshop started with two employees when we bought the rattan weaving business in 2011. There are now 37 craftspeople employed in Soane’s workshops.

Four craftspeople have completed our rattan apprenticeship programme to date, unique in the UK because there is no recognised training in this skill in Britain. In addition, another 10 apprentices are currently in training. We established the apprenticeship to ensure future generations could learn the techniques and to secure the future of the craft in Britain.

Soane seeks to be at the forefront of scalable British manufacturing of the highest quality. We have expanded our premises to accommodate new trainees and have space for over 50 craftspeople.

Our Independent Makers

In addition to our own in-house makers we collaborate with a further 37 independent craft workshops in the UK, choosing those who share our commitment to sustainability and quest for excellence in all that we do. We require high standards from our contracted workshops, including full compliance with the law and assurances that their makers are paid a fair living wage. 

Transparent making processes and shared values with our workshops are central to Soane’s ethos, requiring full visibility of making practices at all stages. 

Raw Material Suppliers

Because we source most of our raw materials from third parties, our ability to map and influence suppliers is limited, especially further down the supply chain outside Britain. That’s why it’s vital we work with peers and other partners to make progress in understanding the sources of our raw materials. We insist upon integrity and transparency in all our partnerships. 

We are mapping our supply chain to understand more fully where our raw materials come from and how workers are treated. Our aim is to work towards full traceability of the materials we use, to ensure total transparency, so that we know exactly where they come from and can ensure the people working in our supply chain are treated well and paid fairly. 

As of January 2025, we have established full transparency and traceability of all raw cotton fibre back to the country of origin.   

Communities

People and planet are at the heart of every decision we make. We are keen to play an active role in our local communities in London, Leicester and North America, as well as in the wider design community; this includes apprenticeships in our own- and third-party UK workshops. We have partnered with the V&A Museum to establish and fund scholarships and grants to students, early career researchers and emerging practitioners working anywhere in the world on any aspect of Asian or African textiles and dress. We also donate leftover fabric and leather to local colleges and universities to be used in classes for educational purposes. 

By investing in training, apprenticeships, and charitable initiatives, Soane contributes to the preservation of vital craft skills in Britain. Read more about our work with local and international charities.