Fashion andTextiles Apprenticeships in London

 

 

THE FASHION AND TEXTILES APPRENTICESHIP PILOT

The Fashion and TextilesApprenticeship Framework was developed by employers to bridge the real skillgaps and offer young people accredited qualifications. The London pilot project, funded by the DCMS[1],anddelivered through Skillset[2],aims to engage providers, employers and potential apprentices to get theprogramme up and running in the capital.

London is the secondlargest employing region for the fashion and textiles sector behind the North West, yet is hometo the largest number of businesses – there are 13,600 businesses employing46,000 people[3]. The Fashion and Textiles Apprenticeship addresses the key skills issues inthe sector, through effective partnerships between employers and trainingproviders and delivers accredited, relevant training across the five differentpathways, which are Apparel (including bespoke tailoring), Footwear, Leathergoods, Saddlery, and Textiles.

TheLondon fashion industry and has some truly global players and althoughApprenticeships are not new to the sector, Mulberry, Quantum, Reed Medical andother companies based around the UK are successfully delivering them, London shouldnot be left behind.

LONDON APPAREL APPRENTICESHIP

The London project is now ina position to formally offer young people the option of taking up a career inthe sector through the Apparel (including bespoke tailoring) Apprenticeship.

Thetypes of fashion and textile businesses who could offer this Apprenticeshipinclude:

· Retailcompanies with in house manufacturing, production and or sample departments

· BrandedCompanies with production and manufacturing in the UK

· Productionand Cut Make and Trim Companies manufacturing garments and accessories toclients or own label

· Tailors andDressmakers

Thetype of job roles that an apprentice may take up on the Apparel pathway includesbut is not exclusive:

· Garment Technologist

· Fabric Technologist

· Pattern And Grading Technologist

· First And Seal Coster

· First And Alterations Pattern Cutter

· Grader

· Sample Machinist

· Quality Controller

· Finisher

· Trainee And Apprentice Tailors / Dressmakers

Ifyou are interested in a different pathway – Leathergoods, Tailoring, Footwear,or Textiles – please email apprenticeships@skillset.orgor see http://www.skillset.org/qualifications/apprenticeships/FT_Apprenticeships/

 

PROVIDERS

Delivery of the Apprenticeship will be through partnerships between Further Education Collegesand sector specific training organisations. These are:

1. FashionEnter and Collegeof Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CHENEL).

Fashion Enter have extensive facilities in theirWorkshop and Factory based at Florentia Clothing Village N4 and will delivertheir Apprenticeship Programme from January 2011.

Their partner, CHENEL, is a further educationcollege based in Haringey with access to an apprentice employment agency (Apprenticeships First)

For more information on the Apprenticeship offerfrom Fashion Enter – please see

https://www.fashioncapital.co.uk/Learning/Apprenticeship.html

2. Fashionworksand WalthamForest College.

Fashionworks are an established provider of professional training and business support inthe sector and have strong relationships with manufacturers, sample units anddesigners in and around London.Based near Islington, this creative consultancy team are collaborating with Waltham Forest College,who offer a strong, supportive environment and an excellent background infashion and textile provision.

A date for formal delivery will be announcedshortly.

In moving forward, it ishoped that other colleges / private providers will engage with delivery inniche or specific market areas.

 

SECTOR SUPPORT

The market for Apprenticeships in Fashion and Textiles has the potentialto expand considerably as interest is raised in the offer. To heightenawareness amongst leading companies throughout the country, key trade bodieshave endorsed the programme including:

– British Fashion Council(www.britishfashioncouncil.com)

– UK Fashion and Textiles Association, (www.ukft.org)

– Association of Suppliers to the BritishClothing Industry (www.asbci.co.uk)

– The TextileInstitute (www.textileinstitute.org)

 

WHAT NEXT?

If you are interested in becoming an apprentice…..

Register your interest through the NationalApprenticeship Service website – we hope to be advertising all apprenticeposts as they become available through this service.

Send Skillset an email to register your interest at apprenticeships@skillset.org

We will keep you informed of apprentice positions inparticipating companies as they become available. You will then need to applyfor the post, as you would for employment with a CV and interview.

If you would like more information about the units of learningin the Apprenticeship….

For details of the levels and units of learning withinthe Advanced Apparel Apprenticeship in Fashion and Textiles, please email arequest to apprenticeships@skillset.org

[1] DCMS – Department of Culture Mediaand Sport

[2] Skillset – the Sector Skills Councilfor Creative Media, including Fashion and Textiles

[3] TBR (2008) Resizing the Fashion and Textiles Sector – London SectorSkills Assessment, Skillset 2010