The Textiles Sector Growth Plan One Year On Sue Tilley Economic Strategy Manager - Business

Sector Growth Plan Infographic

Strategic Sector Needs in 2015  Communicating and forging relationships with retailers, public and stakeholders The message ? A thriving, innovative and capable textiles sector;  Provide support - firm financial footings and management practices allowing businesses to look forward;  Innovation - In both production and processes to continue to drive the sector;  Ethical best practice projecting a positive image of compliant manufacturers  Education & training infrastructure to provide skills needed in traditional and emerging occupations;  Skills development - to combat the ageing workforce and meet key skills needs  Advance support - to respond to the opportunities driven by re-shoring,, the demands of fast fashion and the ability to produce quickly and compliantly; ;

Specific asks - Employer driven activities:  Development of an employer and education links programme  Development of a training and skills centre  Bespoke training programmes – delivered in the workplace/external training centre  "one stop shop" for businesses- A physical hub pulling together the Leicestershire business support offer  Development of a masterclass package based on employer requirements  Funding programme loans and grant schemes to support Website development A loan/grant scheme to support upfront costs A grant scheme to support premises improvement/upgrade facilities Meet the buyer events - funding for exhibiting costs :

The story so far:  Remit of the SGP broadened beyond manufacturers - engaging vertically - with retailers, distributors and the public sector;  Developed and maintained the textiles hub web site;  Launched the Careers and Enterprise Company to foster links between Schools and industry - (A Textiles employment lead is still required);  Hosted buyer supplier events including Next and ASOS; make It British to come in this Year’s LBF  Leicester City have appointed a dedicated textiles Business Sector Growth Manager (Altaf )  RGF has posted impressive results from a £2m grants programme – RGF 6 and hopefully the ERDF will see a continued pipeline  A centre of excellence has been researched & a Future Skills study commissioned

€64.6m ERDF Programme Update ERDF is about supporting businesses – Divided into 4 spending priorities: PA 1 - Innovation; PA 2 – ICT; PA 3 – SME competitiveness; PA 4 – Transition to the Low Carbon Economy The money in each of these is divided into tenders – which organisations bid into to run programmes Today’s agenda is based around PA1 & PA3 AND part of the: €56.2m ESF Programme ESF is about supporting people in jobs

PA 1 – Innovation Update So Far… The total Programme is approximately £8m; Tenders around two objectives: * Innovation support grants and activities for firms * Innovation business units and demonstration facilities £8m put out in tenders last August 4 bids approved to go to stage 2 1 of which a Textiles specific project was withdrawn for technical & legal reasons Some funding unallocated Next month a call in this area will be issued £2.8m £1.8m for SME Support £1m for innovation hubs No guarantee that this will be textiles calls but it could be – a preference for projects supporting at least 1 growth sector

PA 3 SME Competitiveness Update Priority AxisNational Priorities LLEP PrioritiesTimescale Comments£ PA3c SME Competitiveness Theme – Priority Sectors Support Supporting the Creation and extension of advanced capacities for product & service development Sector Business Growth Programme x 6 SGPs Attracting FDI into the LLEP area, particularly targeting priority sector supply chains Sector Growth Support 2 Bids received both cover textiles will generate networking inward investment & grants for Textiles expected to be contracted Oct 16 New Call June 16 £3m £1m PA3d - SME Competitiveness Theme - Business support & Financial Support Supporting capacity of SMEs to grow in national, regional and international markets and engage in innovation Co-ordinated Business Support through the Gateway & UKTI Financial Instruments (Jan) Gateway contract has been signed UKTI – Trade support nearly at contract Total Midlands Engine funds £250 m (2017) £1.5m £6m

ESF Programme Update So Far… Quite a number of themes taken to market with national organisations : Big Lottery, DWP and Skills Funding Agency - A flexible business skills programme for start & grow worth £1.9 m call ends May 16 with a further £1m available after 2018; Employment Hub to fund increase demand for apprenticeships, traineeships and work placements worth £2m Tender opens July 16; Leadership & Management Programme for SMEs who are new to L&M programmes worth £2.8m (£1.8m of which June 2016); Skills Metro - Help people accumulate skills at all stages of working life (esp. mismatches in priority sectors, worth £5m to be issued May 2016;) Sector specific support initiatives worth £0.4m – those facing barriers to getting jobs in the sectors to be issued May 2106

BEST OF BRITISH Simon Colbeck Head of Innovation and Quality Marks and Spencer

A bit about me. Currently Head of Innovation & Quality for Marks and Spencer, Clothing & Home. 18 Years at Marks and Spencer in various buying and technical roles Prior to M&S worked at the Chemist Lord Alliance Regional growth fund board member

M&S Legacy of UK Manufacture M&S decline of Garment making M&S last major UK Manufacture

In spite of headlines M&S still source huge volumes from the UK

What have we Learned? You can still make beautiful garments in the UK But, Customers won’t buy “made in UK” alone Quality, Design & Speed are KEY

UK Manufacture Strengths PRODUCTS PERSONALISATION

UK Textile Growth Programme Regional Growth Programme Round 6 Delivered by Manchester Growth Hub Grants of up to £1m Network of Advisors All sectors of the textile industry covered Access detail via the LLEP Business Gateway

Altaf Ahmed Business Investment Manager Leicester City Council Leicestershire Textiles – Shaping the Future

Business Support Update Enterprising Leicester/shire (2013/15) Dedicated Business Support for Textiles Account Management – Leicestershire Textiles Hub Business engagement and tailored 1 to 1 support Engagement with partners - sharing sector knowledge

Business Support Update Promoting the best of Leicestershire Textiles Promoting exports opportunities Facilitating and enabling various partner engagements Initial works on Employment support Promotion of Textiles to younger generation Keeping the momentum going following SGP

Our Focus ESIF Bid – EOI (Enhancing the Competitiveness of SME) Business support to SME’s Leicestershire Textiles Hub – Further development Supply chain development Promotion of Leicestershire textiles manufacturing Workshops for Employers Further works on Employment support Dev. of Leicestershire Textiles Board – Industry Voice Exploring the idea of developing a Training & Skills Centre

You can help……. Register your interest – Leicestershire Textiles Board Register your interest – Working Group T&S Centre (Complete the form in the attendees pack & return) Join the Leicestershire Textiles Hub – be part of the growing community Promote LTH to your business contacts in Leicester/shire Promote LCC/LLEP support Inform us of your positive news for case studies /press release on LTH