UK Fashion and Textiles Industry Prepares for Future Workforce Needs

Friday 24th of October 2008 06:12:47 PM

The textile and fashion industry is taking an economic beating right now, but the UK government has made it clear the 5 year projection is positive. In fact, the fashion and textiles industry in the UK is projected to need 34,000 new workers added to the workforce between now and 2013. In order to insure the industry is prepared to handle the increasing UK fashion and textile market, the workforce must have the right skills to handle the available jobs.

The UK government recently signed a 3 year agreement with the fashion and textiles industry to prepare for the workforce requirements in the future. The goal is to develop a skilled workforce population that can insure UK companies are able to compete on a global scale. The fashion and textile sales focus on those market niches which are normally quite profitable.

The agreement is worth £24.5 billion and the money will support skills training programs. The program is called "Train to Gain" and is the result of input from a number of fashion and textile employers. The UK agreement includes the Department for Innovation, Department of Universities and Skills,) Skillfast-UK, and the Learning and Skills Council.

Lord Young is the UK Skills Minister. He commented on this agreement by saying, "The Government values the important contribution the fashion and textiles industry makes to our national life, and is committed to working closely with the sector to help it to attract, train and retain quality staff. This compact will ensure that employers will have access to flexible, world-class training, tailored to the specific needs of their business, and delivered when and where they need it."

The fashion and textiles industry includes a wide variety of employers producing everything from non-woven fabric to uniforms. The broad category industry has been growing in economic importance in the UK.