Nadia Whitehead, a 21-year-old trainee spinner at The Natural Fibre Company, recently completed spinning frame technical training with support from UKFT’s Young Textile Technician Fund.

The training focused on the worsted spinning process and expanded Nadia’s knowledge and skills across multiple areas. This training was essential for the company’s growth as few mills offer worsted spinning service here in the UK. It can be a challenge to recruit new staff with the relevant skills and The Natural Fibre Company has a policy to upskill their existing workforce and hire in external trainees to underpin internal development.

Nadia (pictured above) benefited from the training by improving confidence and her knowledge and ability to work independently. Nadia said: “I feel more confident in work since having the training, it has helped to improve my knowledge and capability of working more independently. I am now multiskilled across many machines and have been able to improve my knowledge of working with textiles Learning from someone with 40 years’ experience has advanced my skills in the Worsted process and I feel much more comfortable in operating the machines.”

The Natural Fibre Company’s Worsted line is designed around the Schlumburger Nsc GN4 Gill boxes, Mackie frame and Cognetex machines.

June Gaggini, general manager and the Natural Fibre Company and Blacker Yarns, explained: “There has been a recognisable improvement in Nadia’s knowledge, ability, and confidence after her completion of the training. This has allowed us as a business to improve our efficiency as it has promoted her working independence, which in the long term, will allow me to develop other skills within the business.”

The Young Textile Technician Fund will cover 50% of the costs of in-depth training for young textile technicians, thanks to the generous support of The Worshipful Company of Weavers, The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers and The Worshipful Company of Drapers.

The Young Textile Technician Fund is now open to businesses applying to train textile technicians under the age of 35. To find out more, email paula.mcilwraith@ukft.org

Want to learn more about the Young Textile Technician Fund? Click on the link below:

Young Textile Technician Fund