Sydney started his working life at the age of 15. He joined W A S Benson & Co Ltd on 4 May 1904 as a junior clerk at their Bond Street showrooms, but left on 31 December the same year due to illness. He received good references from the company addressed to Willesden UDC but it is not known if he took up a position with them.

Around 1905, he joined joined his father as a clerk in his china and pottery showrooms in Holborn, London, later becoming a traveller. The business represented various manufacturers, principally Royal Crown Derby. Sydney's work was interupted during the war when he served in the army. In 1916, references were given by Royal Crown Derby stating his bearing and conduct to have been satisfactory.

Sydney next followed his love for acting by entering the film business but returned to work at the showrooms again when the silent films came to an end, and after he had jointly run a company called Commercial Films with H Bracey. This is detailed in chapter 4. Upon the retirement of his father, he took over the position of European representative. Between them, they represented Royal Crown Derby for over 50 years and had many influential customers. One of these was the Bowes-Lyon family who Sydney used to visit. Their daughter became Queen Elizabeth when her husband became King George V.

The showrooms were located in various parts of Holborn around Holborn Circus. In 1916 they were at 15 Charterhouse Street, then soon after at 2 Dyers Buildings. In 1927, when his father retired, the showrooms at Ely Place. In 1937 they were located at Premier House at 12 & 13 Hatton Garden as indicated by an invoice from that year.

Another interesting invoice from 1941 shows the repayment of a loan of £20 given to a customer, Mrs Barber.

The showrooms were variously stocked with Royal Crown Derby pottery, Hammersley china, Copenhagen pottery, Westons Folk Ware and Poole Pottery. Also stocked was Edinburgh and Leith crystal glassware. The Copenhagen pottery was supplied by a man called Ole Sievenson and was mostly bought by Germans with whom it was popular. Sydney's obituary in The Pottery Gazette stated that "Mr Folker had a charmimg personality which made a visit to his showroom a pleasure in itself". From 1945, he was a member of the Board of Management of The Pottery & Glass Trades Benevolent Institution as was his father before him. A letter of condolence from the institution offered their sympathy.