A Centre of Excellence in Textiles in Hawick, Scotland, will open in early 2019 and help address business critical skills issue in the sector.
Along with the Scottish Borders Council, the establishment of the Centre of Excellence is a partnership project involving Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International, Department for Work and Pensions, and local textile and knitwear manufacturing businesses.
The project was awarded £610,000 from the Scottish Government via the South of Scotland Economic Partnership in July.
“I am delighted that we are able to fund this development through the South of Scotland Economic Partnership,” says Fergus Ewing, cabinet secretary for the Rural Economy. “The South of Scotland is renowned for the quality of its textiles industries and it is important that we invest in that excellence for the future.
“The centre will bring real and long-term benefits to the area, developing the talent needed to support the industry’s future success and enabling people to pursue long-term careers in this important sector.”
The centre will be created at a former mill building in Hawick, and will be managed by Alistair Young, former operations manager at the town’s Peter Scott factory.
Training will be provided to the town’s current textiles and knitwear workforce, with upskilling opportunities as well as advancing leadership and management skills. It will support the next generation by training 16-19 year olds in the practical elements of the textile and knitwear industry through Foundation and Modern Apprenticeships. Future development will increase the range of support facilities available to the textile sector.
“This initiative will address business critical issues in the local textiles and knitwear sector and provide a stream of skilled young workers across all roles, enabling the world-renowned Borders businesses in this sector to address succession planning issues and reduce or remove the need to send work overseas,” adds councillor Mark Rowley, executive member for Business and Economic Development.
“This project will also build on the confidence in the sector, which will hopefully lead to continued investment by those companies already established here and inward investment from others who see the benefits of such collaboration.
“Importantly, it also provides genuine work skills for local young people based on a clear pathway to local jobs, which delivers immediate and long-term economic benefits to the Scottish Borders.”
Professor Russel Griggs, chair of the South of Scotland Economic Partnership, says that the Centre of Excellence in Textiles in Hawick is one of the eight projects funded to date and the news the centre is opening early next year is another exciting milestone for the partnership.
“More announcements will be on their way – which will also show the partnership’s commitment to delivering long-term social and economic benefits for the south of Scotland,” adds Griggs.
The location of the new Centre of Excellence in Textiles in Hawick is due to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
The long-term vision of the project is to develop, in addition to the training centre, a textile innovation centre as well as a showcase and marketing tool for the local industry.
