‘Uniting Creativity’ is the catchphrase coined by Makers Central, a brand new show taking place at the NEC in early May. The show is the creation of Nick Zammeti (NZ Woodturning and businessman) and aims to bring together makers from lots of different disciplines. Among those demonstrating and displaying their work will be woodturners, carvers, furniture makers, metalworkers, artists, designers and inventors. Many of these makers have a YouTube channel and will be taking centre stage in the dedicated 'YouTube Makers Zone'.

Wood Carving demontrations at Makers Central

See our top woodworkers

We will be sending some of our most highly skilled makers to wow visitors; Craig Steele (Skill Centre Manager), Jason Breach (renowned woodworker and woodturner), Ben Beddows (woodworker and pyrography specialist) and Paul Otter (Deputy Store Manager at Warrington) will all be at the show. Over the period of the show, they'll be making a Windsor chair on each day.

Get involved

Our team will be encouraging visitors to lend a hand with the Windsor chair making. This is likely to involve cutting and shaping the seat, and setting up and steam bending the bows. So, it’s going to be a hive of activity over the two days.

Other attractions on our stand will include scroll sawing with Katie Reid (Deputy Manager at Cardiff) and pyrography with Chris Kirk (Merchandiser at HQ). Also, we are planning to have a creative corner for visitors under the guidance of Katie and Chris.

Makers Central Scroll Saw

Competition time

The icing on the cake will be two fantastic prizes; with one prize up for grabs on each day. You can win a place on the 5-day Windsor chair course we run at our Skill Centre in Axminster, Devon. On the course you will learn how to make a Windsor chair. At the end of the course, you can take the chair you make home with you. No experience is needed – you just get stuck in under the supervision of our tutors. We will even include local accommodation for the duration of the course as part of the prize. Just pop along to our stand, opposite the YouTube Makers Zone, and find out more about the competition and how to enter.

We hope to see you at Makers Central for what looks to be an incredible two days of making.

For more information about Makers Central, please check out the website.