June Sarpong Supports the UK’s First Fashion Technology Academy
04-11-2015
Statement Regarding FTA Guest of Honour June Sarpong
It is with regret that June Sarpong will not be attending the Fashion Technology Academy launch on 25th November. Unfortunately June has recently suffered a family bereavement and will not be in London for the next few months. FashionCapital sincerely respects this decision and our heartfelt condolences are with June and her family at this time.
The launch event on the 25th November will continue to go ahead and the agenda for the day is as follows:
The day will continue with networking opportunities and an evening fashion show and awards presentation by Juliet Herd from Hello! Fashion Monthly magazine followed by an after party.
Invitation enquiries for the official Fashion Technology Academy launch party need to go to Jenni Sutton jenni@fashioncapital.co.uk
Original Press Release
On 25th November 2015 Social enterprise Fashion Enter Ltd will welcome MBE and television presenter June Sarpong to the official launch of the UK’s first ever Fashion Technology Academy (FTA).
The FTA is a collaborative initiative with Haringey Council who have invested a sum of £570,000 and DWP to ensure longevity and growth for the UK garment manufacturing sector.
Since opening its doors in March 2015 the VIP launch event will celebrate the success of its students to date with the intentions of placing Haringey firmly on the map for British manufacturing.
Sarpong, (pictured right) who hails from North East London and is the Co-founder of WIE (Women: Inspiration & Enterprise) and owner of ethical fashion social enterprise LDNY will present students with awards for Outstanding Achievement during the VIP celebratory launch.
“I am originally from Walthamstow, growing up I spent a lot of time in Walthamstow. Therefore I hold Haringey and Waltham Forest very dear to my heart. I set up WIE to recognise women’s achievements and the work Fashion Enter achieves to help people succeed in life correlates exactly to my ethos. I am delighted to attend the launch of the unique Fashion Technology Academy on 25th November and meeting the talented learners. Learners that have now progressed into work and have real skills for real jobs.”
The Fashion Technology Academy (FTA) is an extension of the successful ASOS.com Stitching Academy and offers qualifications across the entire garment life cycle incorporating pattern making, fabric inspection, laying and cutting, quality control, machine maintenance and stitching.
The academy, which ASOS.com is fully supporting, is the first apparel manufacturing training academy in the country to operate alongside a live factory environment ensuring that students will gain exposure to real manufacturing whilst training for their Level 1 qualification. Having initially launched with the Level 1 Stitching Academy there is now progression for learners to develop to Level 2 and soon 3 and 4, emulating the apprenticeship programme also run by Fashion Enter Ltd.
British manufacturing has suffered over the last five decades with the onslaught of cheap production overseas. However, there has been a marked return to British manufacturing in recent years and with it a keen demand for skilled production workers. The FTA seeks to fill the skills gap by training over 1,000 people a year by 2019, opening up job opportunities for 1,000’s and encouraging growth in the local manufacturing sector.
Director Fashion Enter, Jenny Holloway commented:
“We really believe that the Fashion Technology Academy is the single most important initiative we have ever undertaken. We will be able to help 1000’s of people gain real work based skills that will lead to employment. With the on-shoring of garment manufacturing that is occurring now the timing of the Fashion Technology Academy is perfect. Our sincere gratitude to Haringey Council, and DWP for their overwhelming support.”
Councillor Joe Goldberg, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Social Inclusion and Sustainability also commented:
“I’m proud that here in Haringey we are at the cutting edge of a fashion manufacturing boom, and we are equipping our residents with the skills they need to secure long-term employment. It’s exciting that projects like this that create jobs, apprenticeships and training in industries that capture the imagination of Haringey’s young talent are happening in our borough.”
The expansion of Fashion Enter’s already existing training opportunities with the UK’s first Fashion Technology Academy will not only help grow and regenerate the local borough but it is also fundamental in ensuring garment manufacturing is quite rightly brought back to the UK.
For press enquires please contact jenni@fashion-enter.com / 0208 809 3311
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