Kochi/Silvassa, December 2025: What began as a series of conversations with industry leaders across Kerala and Silvassa has now taken shape as two major skilling facilities— each designed, supported, and powered by the industry itself. The Furniture & Fittings Skill Council (FFSC) has announced the launch of the IFA x FFSC Skill Academy in Kochi and the Swati Interior x FFSC Centre of Excellence in Silvassa, marking a significant expansion of India’s industry-aligned skilling infrastructure for the Furniture, Interior & Allied sectors.
An Idea Rooted in Industry Need
Both centres were born from a common concern voiced repeatedly by manufacturers and businesses: the growing shortage of shop-floor–ready, technically trained manpower.
These were not isolated discussions; they were consistent signals from two rapidly growing regions. As FFSC engaged with industry clusters, factory owners, training partners, and skill ambassadors, a clear narrative emerged—traditional training was not enough. What the sector needed was hands-on, experiential learning tailored to real manufacturing environments.
Rather than introducing a generic solution, FFSC allowed the idea to evolve organically, shaped directly by those who would ultimately hire the candidates.
Kochi: Where the academy model took flight
In Kochi, industry interactions gradually converged toward a single vision: a dedicated Skill Academy built inside the ecosystem, not outside it.
With strong support from leading industry voices and the IFA network, the concept gained momentum quickly. What began as exploratory discussions soon matured into a structured, purposeful initiative to address Kerala’s growing demand for skilled talent.
On 1st December 2025, this vision materialised as the IFA x FFSC Skill Academy—a centre designed to deliver immersive, industry-based learning for modern manufacturing roles.
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The Academy’s first batch begins on 15th December, signalling the start of a long-term talent development pipeline for Kochi’s Furniture, Interior & Allied industries.
Silvassa – A centre of excellence built on the shop floor
While Kerala was shaping its Academy, a parallel movement was emerging in Silvassa.
Swati Interior, one of the prominent players in the region, echoed the same workforce challenges – limited availability of trained workers who can perform confidently from Day 1. This alignment of purpose with FFSC’s mission led to the development of the Swati Interior x FFSC Centre of Excellence.
The soft launch took place inside the Swati Interior facility, in the presence of the factory in-charge and senior technical leaders—symbolic of the industry’s ownership of the initiative. Seven candidates commenced training immediately, with additional participants joining around 15th December.
The Centre aims to become a regional hub for experiential training, offering candidates direct exposure to production environments and real machinery.
Industry as heart of both initiatives
What makes these two launches significant is not merely the establishment of new training centres, but how they were created.
In both locations:
- The need was identified by the industry.
- The concept was shaped through collaborative dialogue.
- The curriculum was built around actual shop-floor requirements.
- The launch was supported and attended by the very ecosystem that will employ the talent.
This model—driven by industry insights and executed by FFSC—is rapidly becoming a benchmark for sector-led workforce development.
A Milestone for India’s Furniture, Interior & Allied Sectors
These new centres are set to contribute to a stronger, more reliable talent pipeline for employers, while offering meaningful career pathways for youth across Kerala, Silvassa and neighbouring regions.
They represent the future of skilling—industry-led, context-driven, and outcome-focused.
