Interim findings of the Textiles Growth Programme show the textile industry in Greater Manchester is thriving.
In total 77 textiles manufacturing business across Greater Manchester invested £32 million in the Textiles Growth Programme over 4 years which unlocked more than £6.4 million in grants through the Government’s Regional Growth Fund.
This has helped create nearly 1,000 new jobs, safeguard more than 150 jobs and created 79 apprenticeships.
The programme focussed on five LEP areas, which had previously had a history of textiles manufacturing, and where there were no growth opportunities. These include Greater Manchester, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Nottingham and Derbyshire.
Andy Ogden from English Fine Cottons, based in Dukinfield said: “The Textile Growth Programme has bought confidence back to the industry. The textile industry needs to support itself and bring quality back to the market. We’ve invested £6 million in bringing cotton spinning back to support weavers, knitters and dyers. We want to ensure high quality cottons produced here in Manchester are back on the high street, giving British consumers the products they deserve.”
Carol Kane, CEO at Manchester-based Boohoo.com said: “At Boohoo we are proud to source over 50 per cent of our products from the UK. Not only are we delighted to support the British textile manufacturing industry and the creation of employment opportunities for workers in the UK, having our suppliers nearby is also a crucial part of our business model. We are a fast-fashion business with a focus on speed to market, so being able to manufacture our products in the UK allows us to lead the way in offering the very latest trends and styles. The industry is going from strength to strength; there is an abundance of skilled and talented people driving the industry forward and we are excited to be able to support the industry as its true growth potential is recognised
Lorna Fitzsimons, Founder and Director of the Textiles Growth Programme, based in Manchester said: “Five years ago, Lord Alliance challenged Sir Vince Cable, the then Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, to recognise the opportunity for increasing UK fashion and textiles manufacturing. This started us on a journey which led to the most extensive study on supply and demand for UK fashion and textiles manufacturing in decades. There is still more to do but this is a success story no one saw coming.”
Sir Vince Cable, former secretary of State for Business, innovation and Skills who commissioned the work added: “The textile industry was widely thought to be extinct in the UK, but some outstanding entrepreneurs, using new technology plus modest Government help under coalition industrial strategy, have turned things around. Reshoring is real and growing.”
