Discussing Skills Shortages in the Manufacturing Sector at the MAKE UK Industrial Strategy Skills Commission

On Monday 17^th February, FashionCapital / FEL CEO Jenny Holloway joined the Industrial Strategy Skills Commission Evidence Session with the MAKE UK Labour Market and Skills Policy Committee, to discuss the chronic skills shortage the UK’s glorious manufacturing sector. Chaired by the Rt Hon Robert Halfon attendees discussed key questions such as: 

• How do we define skills needed in the sector
• More flexibility for employers in critical issues of the sector 
• New ideas regarding specific and positive interventions for skills – here tax credits were discussed similar to R&D tax credits 
• What can be “done” to improve apprenticeship enrolment and engagement. Note that the £1000 sweetener for employers is still available. 

This was a lively paced meeting with strong interventions from the big guys in manufacturing such as Siemens and Caterpillar. Jenny was the voice on manufacturing skills for garment manufacturing, and quite frankly, she was adamant to make sure “our” voices were heard. 

Jenny comments: “One of the points I made focused on the drastic cut to the adult education budget – a necessary route for training in the fashion and manufacturing sector. I discussed my own experience of how Capital City College Group had put a line through our name for the delivery of skills in Level 1 and 2 qualifications. Absolutely vital for entry level to higher level qualifications and apprenticeships.

“FEL worked for a college from 2001 with CONEL and www.fashioncapital.co.uk until last year – when the budget was £350,000 for adult education and we absolutely smashed our completion rates. The results revealed we were higher than the national average and we substantially helped the college during their Ofsted visit where they obtained a ‘Good’ grade. 

“How is it right that an independent training provider can have the infamous red line drawn through their name because a new CEO comes in and decides that they are no longer focusing on fashion! After being in the sector for almost 25-years and growing substantially. Think of how many Gen Z and Gen Alpha are buying thrift and making their own garments with recycling and upcycling.  Incredibly bad timing, but of course I am biased!      

“After a complaint we managed to secure £150k budget that was snapped up within a few months leaving 55 annoyed enrollees for January 25 VERY ANNOYED.

“To cut a long story short…we have complained to Mayor of London, the Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern in her role as Minister of State (Minster for Skills) in the Department of Education asking why aren’t independent training providers, that work so hard recognised? Let’s see how this progresses. 

“We still champion our sector however and this is why we are running Leicester Made on 14th May 2025 at Athena. The UK has some excellent suppliers that can deliver, and yes, the skills required for jobs in this sector are in short supply. 

“Sometimes you just have to fight in what you believe in but what a huge disappointment the new Labour party is when you consider that they were the party of education, equality and skills, yet there is no budget available for delivery for the Adult Skills Fund! Shocking!”