London’s first Apparel Fashion and Textiles Apprenticeship programme is now available

by encouraging London employers to take on an apprentice and nurture emerging young talent.

Skillset, the Sector Skills Council representing the fashion and textiles industry, is promoting the Fashion and Textiles Apparel Apprenticeship as it will help to bridge the technical skill gaps that exist in London and offers strong career paths to aspiring young people keen to get their foot in the door.

With 13,600 fashion and textiles businesses based in London, there is a wealth of experience and skills ready to be handed on to the next generation of production managers, sample machinists and garment technologists.

Fashion Enter and The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London have joined forces to become the first training providers delivering the Apparel Apprenticeship in the capital. Work is now underway to recruit employers and apprentices, with the first apprentices expected to start in January 2011. Fashion Enter and The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London will also be hosting an open day on the 8 December at Fashion Enter’s Workshop in Haringey to show employers and potential apprentices the benefits of Apprenticeship programmes.

College Director for Creative Studies, Jeff Rosenberg, said: “The College is really excited about working with Fashion Enter to develop this new Apprenticeship for Fashion students so that we can ensure they have excellent creative skills as well as technical ones.  Apprenticeships are perfect for this process.”

The Apprenticeship framework was developed by employers to allow flexible training which fits with individual company needs, and it is now being delivered throughout the UK.

One employer about to start the Apprenticeship programme is ASOS.com, their Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Louise McCabe said: “Asos.com prides itself on breaking new ground in the fashion industry.  We are also passionate about creating career opportunities for young people and developing skills for garment manufacturing in the UK. This is why we are delighted to be directly supporting the first London based Fashion Apprenticeship with Fashion Enter and The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London.”

Skillset chief executive Dinah Caine said: “London is such a hub of creative talent and tremendous skill in the fashion and textiles industry, it seems a waste not to have these skills being passed down through the Apprenticeship scheme.  We look forward to many talented apprentices in London being given the opportunity to kick start their careers.”

 

If you would like more information on offering Apprenticeship places or the Fashion and Textiles Apprenticeship please contact apprenticeships@skillset.org or visit www.skillset.org/fashionapprenticeship

For more information contact

Skillset press and PR officer Nick Sheridan on 0207 713 9854 or nicks@skillset.org

Out-of-hours: 0754 206 9110.