Fashion Industry

Answered by Shaun Woodward

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It is estimated that over 3,000 students graduate from UK university fashion and textile design courses every year. According to data supplied by the Higher Education Statistics Agency, of those who obtain a job in the next six months following graduation, 14 per cent. secure a design job in the apparel, footwear and textiles sector.

According to Skillfast-UK's Skills Need Assessment report 2005, there is an over-supply of qualified people, but employers have still identified significant skills shortages. More students could be employed in UK businesses, if they had the appropriate complementary skills to underpin their creativityin particular, technical skills such as pattern cutting, grading and garment construction, together with commercial and production understanding.

Skills issues were discussed at a fashion summit which was held on

27 April this year and hosted by the Secretary of State and my predecessor as Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism. DCMS is working with Skillfast-UK, the sector skills council for apparel, footwear and textiles, the British Fashion Council and Creative London on how best to respond to skills shortages, and support young designers so that they can utilise their design talent within the UK.

Plans for a technical training centre and designer mentoring service in London, which will bring established names together with young talent, will be discussed at a meeting of top designers, convened by the sector skills council, in early September.

Skillfast-UK is also working with the Higher Education Subject Design Centre and the Centres of Vocational Excellence to ensure that higher education courses include the technical and commercial skills that employers require.

As part of our continuing dialogue and work with the fashion industry my Department will stay in close touch with how skills and employment issues develop, and we intend a further major discussion with the industry on priorities and progress to take place at an appropriate time in the next few months.