Government backs Textile Sector Skills Push

The first round of the ‘Employer Ownership of Skills’ initiative invited companies to design more effective ways to improve skills in the workforce to drive productivity and growth, and textile and clothing businesses across England have joined forces to create a proposal to increase employer leadership, commitment and investment in skills.

The Textile Centre of Excellence Managing Director, Bill Macbeth welcomed the Government announcement saying, “This project will bring about a step change in the level and quality of training in the sector, demonstrating new models for public investment. Our approach will reverse the long term decline in Apprenticeship training, raise the profile of the sector and engage the talent that our companies need to compete more effectively.

Company leaders have worked with sector bodies to create an ambitious and innovative new approach. Our partnership includes manufacturers from textiles, technical textiles, apparel and textile services sectors, our trade associations and Creative Skillset, the Sector Skills Council.

Our project includes practical new ideas for working with education, attracting and preparing industry entrants, developing Apprenticeships and creating new opportunities for increasing technical knowledge”.

The project has been welcomed from all sides of industry and education.  Paul Johnson, Managing Director of WT Johnson and Sons Cloth Finishers said “The Government invited industry to take the lead in designing and delivering the skills training required for their businesses to compete more effectively.  This proposal clearly demonstrates that our industry has heard, and has responded to that challenge.  Given the resources, we will create new partnerships with schools, introducing new pathways for ambitious young people to take up rewarding careers and enabling our businesses to succeed in high value markets around the world”.

Professor Richard Horrocks, Chairman of NWTextnet added “There has never been a greater demand for new innovative textile products to support developments in the aerospace, automotive, medical sector and other sectors associated with technical textiles which is now a key component of advanced manufacturing.  As these markets continue to grow we need new skills to compete effectively.  Our employers have been telling us that they want to influence the supply and quality of training.  They have embraced the call to action by Government and believe that this initiative is an important catalyst for change”.

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman has also welcomed the new initiative” “If UK Manufacturing is going to compete in the future, we need to have the latest technology, backed up by continuous innovation and a strong spirit of enterprise.  The industry itself has to take the lead to make that happen.  We have to attract bright, ambitious young people into our manufacturing companies, and that means we have to change perceptions and demonstrate that our industry offers excellent careers, and bright futures.  This project will do exactly that.  It is practical and industry-led and it deserves our support”.

Details of the project will be finalised this month with a launch planned for October. 

For more information contact:

Bill Macbeth. Textile Centre of Excellence. Huddersfield

01484 346500  bill.macbeth@textile-training.com