UK
The TSA hosted an event at the Palace of Westminster with backing of SNP’s Drew Hendry, Member of Parliament for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey, who spoke at a reception ‘Celebrating the Future of Apprenticeships in the Textile Services Industry’, to raise awareness of the TSA’s new apprenticeship programme – and the industry itself.

Drew Hendry highlighted the textile services industry’s contribution to the UK economy and its direct impact on the ability of the healthcare, hospitality and manufacturing sectors to function efficiently referencing a recent report by the TSA.

“The report proves that a surprising number of UK industries are reliant on textile services to operate,” said Drew Hendry “Everyone from patients, tourists, factory workers and chefs rely on products processed by TSA member firms without realising it. Yet their absence would cause monumental disruption.” The TSA believes that factories, hotel businesses and hospitals/healthcare sectors would grind to a halt in three days if textile services failed to operate and claims the industry contributes £1.4 billion to the economy.

 

With the inevitable nod towards Brexit, TSA chair Charles Betteridge of Christeyns, stressed the importance of flexible immigration and minimal import tariffs. “Our industry’s workforce is made up of 40% non-UK EU Nationals who fear an uncertain status for themselves and their family members. With 62% of the UK laundries unable to fill vacancies, the industry is investing record levels in automation, but the labour shortage is critical to the industry’s sustainability.”

TSA chief executive Philip Wright told guests: “Our sector is good at training its staff, from operative to senior management, and the English apprenticeships, such as the recently approved Level 2 Textiles Care Operative, are a good addition to what is available to the industry.

“Scotland has been successful in training people through apprenticeships as well as National Vocational Qualifications; the latter have more flexible funding that companies can use more effectively.

“If we want apprenticeships in England to be as successful, they need to be granted greater flexibility in terms of funding streams and training schedules.

“The focus should be on the competencies gained at the end of the programme, rather than amount of time spent training. This is itself another issue, as small and micro businesses can find it particularly onerous to allocate one day a week for training away from the workplace.”

Wright closed by mentioning that access to people is becoming increasingly important, saying that “38.8% of people employed in our sector come from other European countries, and it is essential the Government does not create unnecessary barriers to recruitment of staff with entry level skills from abroad”.

TSA members, apprentices and representatives from the wider industry at the event, were joined by executive officers from worldwide trade associations in the Terrace Bar for the occasion. Pictured from left are Laundry Association of Australia (LAA) CEO Anthony Kingsley; TRSA President and CEO Joseph Ricci; European Textile Services Association (ETSA) executive Robert Long; TSA chair, Charles Betteridge; and TSA chief executive Philip Wright.

The reception followed hard on the heels of a decision by the TSA Board to transfer the retail side of its membership – with associated services – to the UK Fashion and Textiles Association (UKFT). TSA will continue to be responsible for commercial laundry members.

The TSA conference takes place next week (Friday, 16 November) and will be held at the May Fair Hotel, London. A report will appear in LCN December issue and online.