Technical Education

Vocational support and skills development for apprentices, students and more.

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We encourage young people to explore careers in the textiles industry and enable students to take innovative concepts from crucible to loom, and on to market. This translates into support for apprenticeships, work placements, conferences and seminars, and more.

For the past few years, a significant amount of funding has been directed at UK Fashion & Textiles (UKFT). In 2022, The Company granted £170,000 to UKFT to promote British textiles abroad and strengthen the industries reputation over the next three years. We also funded other UKFT initiatives aimed at promoting opportunities within the industry, improved employability, increased skills development and on-the-job training – such as the UKFT Young Textile Technician Fund.

We have continued to fund The Weavers’ Company Entry to Work Scheme, securing placements and creating job opportunities for young people in textile manufacturing.

In 2022, our grant to the Textile Centre for Excellence supported its Sustainability Strategy Programme (pilot). The initiative provided a road map for integrating sustainability into core purpose, strategy and operations for 10 textile companies based in and around the Yorkshire region.

Our successful partnership with creative business incubator Cockpit Arts continues to flourish. Our grants have provided equipment as well as bursaries for 35 weavers to date.

Recent Grants

We awarded £170,000 to UK Fashion & Textiles (UKFT) for promoting British textiles abroad and strengthening the UK's reputation in the global industry. Additional funds went to initiatives aimed at supporting professionals, promoting opportunities within the industry, improving employability, skills development and on-the-job training.

We awarded £170,000 to UK Fashion & Textiles (UKFT) for promoting British textiles abroad and strengthening the UK's reputation in the global industry. Additional funds went to initiatives aimed at supporting professionals, promoting opportunities within the industry, improving employability, skills development and on-the-job training.

The Experimental Weave Lab (TEWL) was co-sponsored by The Clothworkers' Company in 2021-2022. Co-curated by Clothworker Elizabeth Ashdown and Weaver Philippa Brock, TEWL served as an incubator while supporting weaving residencies and producing a series of public events and educational workshops to introduce contemporary weaving to new audiences.

The Experimental Weave Lab (TEWL) was co-sponsored by The Clothworkers' Company in 2021-2022. Co-curated by Clothworker Elizabeth Ashdown and Weaver Philippa Brock, TEWL served as an incubator while supporting weaving residencies and producing a series of public events and educational workshops to introduce contemporary weaving to new audiences.

A long-term partnership with Cockpit Arts was reinforced with another grant of £66,000 (over three years) allowing a new round of award recipients to take up positions in the weaving studio at Deptford, including Lara Pain (featured here) and Sven Steinmetz in 2022.

A long-term partnership with Cockpit Arts was reinforced with another grant of £66,000 (over three years) allowing a new round of award recipients to take up positions in the weaving studio at Deptford, including Lara Pain (featured here) and Sven Steinmetz in 2022.

The Company co-funds the UKFT Young Textiles Technician Training Fund (with The Weavers’ Company and The Drapers’ Company). Emma Smith, a marketing support executive at Blacker Yarns, learned to colour match samples and create unique recipes for customers during her training in 2022.

The Company co-funds the UKFT Young Textiles Technician Training Fund (with The Weavers’ Company and The Drapers’ Company). Emma Smith, a marketing support executive at Blacker Yarns, learned to colour match samples and create unique recipes for customers during her training in 2022.

The Fashion-Enter Ltd Tailoring Academy opened in London with funding from the Mayor of London’s ‘Good Growth Fund’ as well as £24,500 from The Company.

The Fashion-Enter Ltd Tailoring Academy opened in London with funding from the Mayor of London’s ‘Good Growth Fund’ as well as £24,500 from The Company.