A wide-reaching extension of the UK’s first ever National Apprenticeship in Fashion and Textiles Apparel scheme, initiated two years ago – through which:

• 120 young people will complete with a Level 1 qualification in “Stitching Skills” after a six-week internship, during which their daily expenses will be paid

• At least forty young people will go onto employment (over half of all jobs will be with Fashion Capital), further education or additional apprenticeships

• Skills gained will include: Sewing & Stitching, Machinery Operation, Inspecting & Measuring and Health & Safety, all trained at The Factory in Haringey, London

• ASOS Foundation, a registered charity, will supply all technical equipment and machinery, matching contributions from Haringey Council for teaching costs

• All activity will be supported by grant funding from the Department of Work & Pensions via Jobcentre Plus to drive British manufacturing by young people

Since a £250,000 low-interest loan in 2011 to not-for-profit industry organisation and training provider Fashion Enter, ASOS has enabled the production of up to 7,000 garments per week at The Factory in Haringey. In addition, as part of its commitment to support the UK retention of declining industry skills – focusing on young people who wish to work in fashion – ASOS has supported two apprentices through to graduation, with another two currently progressing through the programme.

Commenting on why ASOS has supported the initiative, Nick Robertson, ASOS CEO, stated:

“ASOS is proudly committed to supporting British manufacturing in our industry by giving skills and job opportunities to the young people who will take it into the future. The Stitching Academy is one of many steps in the right direction and perfectly mirrors the objectives of the ASOS Foundation.”

* The launch of the Stitching Academy follows reports of 1.09m of 16 – 24-year-olds (15.1%) falling into the NEET category (Not in Education, Employment or Training) over January – March 2013.

Jenny Holloway, managing director of Fashion Capital, added: “Real qualifications for stitching and machine skills that can fill the current job vacancies in garment manufacturing today are vital. Funding has to be carefully targeted to relevant initiatives and training has to be specific to the needs of the market – receiving this support across both areas through the Stitching Academy could place Haringey at the heart of a ‘made in Britain’ revolution.”

* = Office for National Statistics figures, May 2013