Citation
(2014), "More apprentices would suit the tailoring trade", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 46 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ICT.03746caa.012
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
More apprentices would suit the tailoring trade
Article Type: Notes and news From: Industrial and Commercial Training, Volume 46, Issue 3
Britains bespoke-tailoring industry faces a shortage of master tailors, says James Sleater, co-founder of bespoke Savile Row tailor Cad and the Dandy.
"We have heard Sir James Dyson say that the lack of skilled engineers was the greatest barrier to the growth of his company and property entrepreneur Will Davies has been drawing attention to skill shortages in the construction industry. The same thing will happen in the tailoring trade if we do not provide adequate apprenticeships and training routes for youngsters joining the industry," said James Sleater.
"Britain has always led the world in bespoke tailoring and our craftsmen are still the envy of every other country but we need more talented youngsters to make the decision that ours is the industry they want to work in," he continued.
Sir James Dyson said that he could employ another 2,000 engineers tomorrow if only he could find suitably trained candidates. He said that the lack of skilled engineers in the UK was the greatest barrier to his companys growth.
Research from Simply Business, an insurance provider to small business, reveals that there has been a large drop in the number of skilled tradesmen in the construction industries. The number of joiners has fallen by 17 per cent over the last three years and the number of roofers by 11 per cent. A quarter of plumbers and 19 per cent of bricklayers have left their trades over the last four years.
"The Government says that it is preparing to invest in infrastructure projects and home-building. Where does it think the skilled tradesmen will come from?" asked Will Davies, a campaigner for a return to a traditional system of apprenticeship training.
"There are more than a million young people outside education or training in the UK yet many industries face daunting shortages of skilled craftsmen," said James Sleater.
"We hear that an average of 11 individuals chase every apprenticeship that is offered. We have to look closely at the quality and suitability of the apprenticeships on offer in the UK and make more of them available."