A Positive Road Ahead for British Manufacturing

The conference was chaired by Dr Julie King, ASBCI event chairman and head of fashion and textiles at De Montfort University in collaboration with the conference’s co-sponsors Advanced Supply Chain and Johnsons Cleaners in association with GreenEarth Cleaning.

The Group Training Association stand at the conference

The day opened with a scene setting presentation from Alek Adamski, partner, UK supply chain practice at global management consulting firm Kurt Salmon, who detailed the reality of manufacturing in the UK, identify particular areas of growth and the role of the consumer in driving this growth.

Key guest speakers included Tony O’Connor, head of design at Marks & Spencer, (pictured right) he discussed how the high street giant is making the most of British sourcing opportunities. Christopher Nieper, managing director, of UK-based nightwear and womenswear fashion brand David Nieper, a family business that has been designing and manufacturing exclusively in Britain for 50 years. He questioned modern UK-manufacturing models and revealed how the vertical company has adapted its business model to deliver continuous growth, even during the recession. While Ian MacLean, managing director of John Smedley, explained how the company has developed into one of Britain’s most successful and enduring luxury knitwear brands and managed to maintain, grow and globalise its market.

Other speakers included:

David Goodwin, Head of Technical Services at Matalan,

Chris Taylor, Commercial & Operations Director at Basic Thinking,

Lorna Fitzsimons, Director at The Alliance Project,

Jonny Mitchell, Executive Director from Crystal Martin International,

Alongside our very own Jenny Holloway, Founder & Managing Director of Fashion Enter and FashionCapital.

Jenny talked about taking British manufacturing forward by increasing essential apprenticeship schemes and skills development courses using the Stitching Academy as an example. She was then supported by two Fashion Enter apprentices Zoe Barrow and Abbie Godbold. (All pictured left.)

About the conference Jenny Holloway said:

“Compared to two years ago there was such a more can-do attitude with regards to manufacturing in the UK. There was a great line-up of speakers who spoke with honest integrity based on years of genuine experience. Well done to ASBCI for organising the event and the speakers for such informed knowledge and passion.

“I was really proud of both Zoe and Abbie, our apprentices, who addressed the 175 guests!  No mean feat at all, but they were so polished and professional!”

Wrapping up the conference Kate Hills who founded the ‘www.makeitBritish.co.uk’ website in 2011 explained how UK manufacturers are gaining business, the strategies they are implementing for making in the UK and how they are getting it right.

‘Making it in the UK- Ready or not? The reality of manufacturing in Britain’ was held at The Hinckley Island Hotel, Hinckley, Leicester, on the 25^th February 2014