UKFT is pleased to announce that the Young Textile Technician Fund is now available to businesses applying to train textile technicians under the age of 35.

The fund supports businesses across the UK to train their young textile technicians, covering 50% of the costs of in-depth training. It allows businesses to extend their capabilities, increase flexibility and develop new skills at textile companies within the UK.

Training is typically carried out by machinery builders, often at overseas training schools, and is extremely specialised. As companies invest in new textile technology, the requirement for highly-skilled textile technicians has never been more important but this type of in-depth training can be prohibitively expensive.

Most recently, the fund has supported young textile technicians at UK textile manufacturers including C&J Antich & Son, The Natural Fibre Company, Milliken, Johnstons of Elgin, KnitRegen, Bowmer Bond, Halley Stevensons, John Spencer Textiles, Arville Textiles, Bute Fabrics, Pennine Weavers and Bill Babes Knitwear.

The fund has been made possible thanks to the generous support of The Worshipful Company of Weavers, The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers and The Worshipful Company of Drapers.

Companies interested in accessing funding should contact Paula.Mcilwraith@ukft.org

About UKFT’s Young Textile Technician Fund