BFA We all know we live in a country that is facing some seismic and long-
terms changes but for all its faults- we’re lucky to live in the UK - we have a fast moving, dynamic, evolving, creative and diverse economy and more specifically a much changed - but still internationally admired footwear industry. We have some of the finest educational establishments and universities in the world and we can and should celebrate this position of strength.
The UK footwear universities namely, LCF, De Montfort and the University
of Northampton produce many excellent graduate designers capable of bringing enthusiasm, fresh ideas and new thinking into the industry. Working together the Universities and industry have the chance to forge new partnerships for the development of technical excellence, customisation and innovation to drive future development and growth in the sector. With the refocus of the Government on apprenticeships FE colleges are once again starting to look at offering footwear making courses for the those of a less academic persuasion or more interested in taking a vocational rather than academic route into a career.
I am very proud of the BFA’s facilitating role and the sectors commitment
to the development of a new level 2 Apprenticeship in Footwear Manufacturing. After what equates almost 3 years – an all new standard went forward to the Institute of Apprenticeships for approval last week and will be available to train new footwear manufacturers from early 2018.
In November Jayne West –the BFA’s Training and Apprenticeship Manager
- brought together at Clothworkers’ Hall London - the Cordwainers’ and Pattenmakers’ liveries, key UK quality footwear manufacturers, bespoke makers and orthopaedic footwear specialists to scope a higher level Shoemaker apprenticeship. An industry first I believe and a real example of what can be achieved if the footwear industry works together to safe guard its own future.
British made footwear remains in high demand internationally and there
are signs that the much heralded reshoring of the UK footwear manufacturing is starting to happen. Clarks will open a new factory in Street in early 2018 making their iconic desert boots, Goral and Sons have opened a new factory in Sheffield working with several UK brands, the planned expansion at Church is still ongoing and increasing production at Hotter and New Balance along with the ongoing resilience of the Northampton welted factories and other producers around the UK is great news for the sector. All developments will drive a growth in footwear career opportunities in UK footwear.
That said, the UK jobs’ market is set to get more complex and where we go
wrong as an industry is believing we can drop individuals, however talented, fresh from academia, into the commercial world with no experience of what it’s like working in an actual business. The UK’s reputation for quality footwear comes alongside a reputation for high quality innovative design nurtured by the institutions here this evening and I have no doubt an industry education partnership will become more important for the future.
The BFA will celebrate our 120th anniversary in 2018/ 19 and we plan to
keep graduate interface projects with industry at the core of our activity. I am therefore happy to confirm that the BFA stands ready to work alongside
British Footwear Association.
www.britishfootwearassociation.co.uk
the Liveries, education and industry to ensure courses are aligned with the business skills and understanding needed by the sector.
Whether in designing making, selling, marketing, merchandising sponsored
work placements will always ensure students better understand the different roles in business and are exposed to all career paths and opportunities offered by the sector. However, the real win from education and industry working together is that the best graduates – through valued and planned work connections - will get the chance to learn essential life and business skills before entering the workplace full time - enabling them to be more work ready, and more able to contribute commercially and add value from the outset.
Brexit will mean the UK needs to produce even more home-grown talent
and we will, of course, need to continue to develop traditional footwear skills to ensure the future of our welted and high quality manufacturers.
The government’s new industrial strategy focuses on investment in R&D,
new technology and robotics to drive a vital growth in UK productivity. So there is also a real and exciting opportunity for education and industry to work together to ensure UK footwear develops and adopts new technologies, new design ideas, researches new materials and new ways of manufacturing alongside the skills required to fill the new roles that will come from, and be needed to exploit these developments.
In this way we will be able to continue to differentiate UK footwear - enabling us to continue to compete and grow sales globally in the future.
British makers, sources, designers and retailers are amongst the finest in
the world and British footwear is in demand globally. But continued success will come from us all working together to help
produce individuals, through apprenticeships, vocational training or universities, with the depth of knowledge, skills, awareness, aptitude and ambitions to fill the existing and future roles that must be offered by the sector. As always - the future really is in our own hands and will come from all stakeholders involved in the UK footwear sector working together.
14 • FOOTWEAR TODAY
• JANUARY 2018
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