Simon is the founder and creative director of SimonThomas Pirie but also an accomplished furniture maker. His role is largely client facing so it is Simon that will be responsible the early stages of most projects, including design and costing.

He originally trained as a sculptor and has a first degree in Fine Art, but then found his real niche when he enrolled at Hooke Park College, part of John Makepeace’s Parnham Trust. It was at this experimental college in the woods where he developed his making and design skills, but also a deep understanding of forestry and environmental issues. He left Hooke with Masters Degree in Forest Product Technology, Design and Manufacture.

He is a visiting design lecturer at further and higher education levels and has chaired the boards of various arts organisation across the South West.

John joined Simon Thomas Pirie in 2000 after completing the renowned HND Furniture Course at Buckinghamshire University. He became a director of Simon Thomas Pirie Ltd in 2007.

An experienced cabinet maker with an eye for detail, John still spends time ‘on the bench’ however much of his role now focuses on the management of what goes through the workshops at Briantspuddle, scheduling projects and organising the making and fitting teams.

John recently took up the lead in technical design and has become expert in getting the most out of our CAD design software and getting the drawings ready for the manufacture.

Bridget became a director in 2007 but was effectively a ‘sleeping’ partner until 2015 when she left her 20 year career as a teacher in order to spend more time with the family and to contribute more directly to the running of the business.

She now fills the roles of bookkeeper, HR manager, business administrator and marketing director. She keeps the whole team in line as well as the paperwork and legal obligations up to date. The rest of her time is spent ferrying children to and from various clubs and activities and making sure homework is done and mouths are fed.

Michael Smith became part of the team in 2007 and has become our lead maker. He is ‘a natural born cabinet maker’ with the skills, diligence and creative confidence of someone twice his age. Michael loves nothing more than a technically challenging project, he loves problem solving on the bench and is happiest when he’s very busy.

He has also become a great teacher of the younger members of the team and loves sharing his knowledge with others.

Michael is a keen cyclist and it is not uncommon for him to cycle the 20 miles to work – and home again!

Tom came to us for a short period of work experience while studying for an A level in Design. We were all impressed with Tom’s dedication, tenacity and talent and suggested that he might consider an apprenticeship here at Simon Thomas Pirie.

For Tom, meeting Simon and seeing the workshop opened his eyes to the possibility of following in both his grandfathers’ footsteps; one having been a joiner and the other a carpenter. The opportunity to complete an apprenticeship working with our talented team of designers and makers felt like a natural progression and he embraced it enthusiastically.

Tom completed his apprenticeship with us in 2017 and is now our first home grown, fully-fledged cabinet maker. He is also taken on the role of supporting our latest apprentice Ben here at the STP workshops.

James first contacted us for a job for some years before a position finally came available and so when it was offered to him he jumped at the chance. In between that first contact and getting a bench with us he completed the renowned furniture course at the Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy.

James settled into the team incredibly well and is now a key member of the making team. Not only is the standard of his work of the highest quality, he also makes a fine up of coffee!

Oscar is the most recent addition to the making team here at Simon Thomas Pirie Ltd. He’s come to us via a degree in History from Exeter University but retrained in joinery and furniture making post Covid and hasn’t looked back since. Eager to learn he’s quickly become a valued member of the STP team both in the workshop and on site.

When not in the workshop he can often be found somewhere along the South West coastline surfing.

Ben Hawkins joined us in September 2023 as our apprentice cabinet maker after attending a talk about a career in the furniture industry at Sturminster Newton High School, where Bridget Pirie had taught for a decade and Tom Cornick, our previous apprentice had also been a student.

Ben, now in his second year of training splits his time between the STP workshops and Ryecotwood College in Oxford doing his NVQ2. He’s doing really well absorbing ‘the knowledge’ and is shaping up to be skilled maker.