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Cutting IT

Partnership information

Description

Beneficiary of scheme at work

Background 

The textile and clothing sector in the UK is dominated by small businesses employing fewer than ten people. The continuing decline in employee numbers in the industry has been affected by the move towards flatter organisational structures and fast response manufacturing, towards higher margin ‘niche’ products such as fashionwear, new ICT applications, and advanced manufacturing and design technologies, all of which point to the need for greater multi-skilling and employee flexibility. A high proportion of the workforce have no qualifications (29%, more than twice the national average), few are qualified at NVQ Level 3 and above, and the average age of employees is increasing. While opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled staff and operatives continue to decline, there is likely to be growing demand for generic management skills and specialist technological design, ICT and processing skills which add value to the business.

Aims

This partnership's aims are to develop and pilot innovative models and approaches to assist small businesses and their employees within the clothing and textile sector in East London to adapt to the impact of changing market conditions and new technologies on business competitiveness.

Objectives

  • Raise awareness amongst employers of the implications of structural change within the sector and the need for workforce development
  • Identify and test new business support and training services
  • Develop and pilot new flexible learning programmes, progression and career pathways through learning centres accessible in the workplace and community and a sector-specific Virtual Learning Centre
  • Create a mentoring network to deliver a comprehensive service
  • Encourage collaborative working practices between designers, manufacturers and retailers developing business networking and common services in technology, design and marketing.
Activities
  • Provide accredited training programmes for manufacturers and access to online marketing via a Manufacturers Showcase
  • Savile Row Bespoke Ltd and NCFE pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship tailoring courses
  • Sector-specific training up to NVQ Level 3 in Business, IT and Garment Construction
  • Fashion Futures 1 and 2 training projects for 14 to 19 year-olds
  • Develop a lean manufacturing unit, a sample unit and a quick response unit within the London Action Resource Centre enabling workforce and owner training in new technologies and manufacturing techniques
  • Evaluate job competencies and profiles to improve existing curriculum.
Target Groups
  • Sole traders and individuals employed in the fashion and textile sector
  • BME groups
  • Women
  • Older workers

Round

2

Round 1 to Round 2

This Development Partnership was not involved in Round One.

Lead partner

Newham College of Further Education
www.newham.ac.uk

Core partners

Business Link for London, Central London Partnership, East London eLearning, Fashion - Enter, Fashion Awareness Direct, Fashion Works, Ideas Foundation, London Apparel Resource Centre, London Borough of Newham, Skillfast-UK, Tribal CTAD, University of East london, ZiP - The Centre of Vocational Excellence - Textile Manufacturing and Design

Transnational partnerships

Information for Transnational partnerships

Contact

Justine Wright, Newham College of Further Education,

End-dates

Action 2: 30 June 2007
Action 3: 31 March 2008

Equal theme

Adaptability to work

Origins

Cutting IT is a collaboration of 13 partners who represent the driving forces in the UK's fashion and textile sector. Suppliers, businesses, colleges and agencies within the industry have come together to provide a holistic approach to help small businesses meet the challenges of a changing market environment.

Beneficiaries

BME groups, Employed in SMEs, Jobseekers with low basic skills

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Connections

Connections

Activities and products

Activity
Business and Workforce DevelopmentThe project has focused on the development of specific networks to support career development, employer engagement, breaking down communication barriers and encouraging collaboration.
Activity
La Credenza La Credenza has been created by four international partners from Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark and the UK, as follows: Cutting IT (UK) has been developing and testing innovative models and methodologies for clothing and textiles SMEs and employees to help them adapt to changing requirements within the industry, particularly in relation to technology, the increasing role of niche fashionwear, and workforce flexibility. La Credenza is a transnational partnership
Activity
Lean ManufacturingThe project focus is on providing multiple skills to sample machinists to create a more versatile workforce in a lean manufacturing environment.
Activity
MentoringThe project provides vital support to talent within the fashion industry without which there would be little chance of development.
Print
Training Background Detailed research carried out by Cutting IT in collaboration with Skillfast-UK, Newham College and London-based fashion and textile companies, has identified key areas in which specific issues needed to be addressed.Expand/collapse Products (4)
Print
Fashion Business Support GuideFashion Business Support Guide - Stakeholder Forum.
Print
Project Summary flyerThis flyer was produced by Cutting IT Partnership to provide information on the projects and partners within the partnership.