Feb 20 Designer James Irvine dies

jamesirvine British furniture and product designer James Irvine has died. He was 54. Irvine graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1984 and that year moved to Milan.

For the next eight years he was a design consultant for the Olivetti design studio, designing industrial products under the direction of Michele De Lucchi and Ettore Sottsass.

Feb 20 'Cut costs' call for chancellor

emptyshop The government must do more to reduce retailers' costs – which have risen by more than fifth since 2006 – the BRC says in its pre-budget submission. The independent study produced by Oxford Economics for the BRC, shows retailers' operating costs have increased by a fifth since 2006 and it is centrally-driven costs that have risen most rapidly.

Feb 19 Hoppen for Dragons' Den

Interior designer Kelly Hoppen is to join the panel on BBC TV programme Dragons' Den.

Feb 19 CfW to reveal its most ambitious wool celebration

The UK will see the largest celebration of wool when The Campaign for Wool launches Wool House next month. Occupying the west wing of Somerset House in central London, from 13-24 March Wool House will present a vision for wool as a modern, versatile, lifestyle fibre, featuring a showcase of interiors, fashion and the world of artisan and craft making, along with a hi-tech educational suite.

Feb 18 More young people needed in the furniture industry

apprenticeship-790 Increasing the number of young people developing skills in furniture manufacturing will prove vital for the future success of the industry, according to Jessica Lee MP.