Funded training for the sewn products sector is now available for the first time in Scotland.

The UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) has secured the future of the Scottish Modern Apprenticeship in Fashion and Textiles Heritage at SCQF Level 5, and added a new additional pathway on the training for ‘Sewn Products’.

As sector skills body for the fashion and textile industry, UKFT submitted recommendations to Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to identify priority skills interventions the industry requires earlier this year, but unfortunately none of the requested developments for fashion and textiles were approved.

This included requesting extensions to Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) to ensure training provision could continue as the industry transitions to new qualifications, as well as adding in the long overdue Sewn Products pathway to enable the industry to access funded training for the fast-growing sewn product sector.

UKFT took the decision to fund these revisions and is delighted to confirm that the reviewed Fashion and Textiles ‘Heritage’ framework at SCQF Level 5 was approved by the Scottish Apprenticeship Approvals Group (AAG) on 15th July and opened for starts from Monday 26th July 2021.

The SCQF5 framework has successfully upskilled almost 1,200 people in Scotland since it was introduced in 2011, across leather production and manufacturing, textiles and technical textiles, and textile care services. This figure is expected to grow significantly in future years thanks to the addition of the sewn product pathway.

“We are delighted to have been able to deliver a funded sewn products pathway in Scotland for the whole cut, make and trim industry,” said John West, director of skills and training at UKFT  “This will serve the entire sector spanning clothing, textiles, upholstery, soft furnishings and medical. It also serves as entry level training for those who aspire to become kilt makers or bespoke tailors. Not only is it meeting the immediate skills gap for ‘Made in Scotland’ production, it is also the fundamental first step for maintaining artisan and heritage trades in Scotland.”

www.ukft.org/sewn-product-sector-scotland