UKFT academic member Makers HQ has been awarded £10,000 to invest in new machinery through the Community Business Challenge in Plymouth.

The organisation was one of five projects in with a chance of receiving business skills support from Marks & Spencer and up to £10,000 funding from Power to Change, to help develop their plans for making a difference in Plymouth.

Makers HQ is a textiles sampling studio which helps designers draft patterns and manufacture product samples. Profits from the studio are reinvested into the provision of training and education programmes, which help members of the local community gain skills and employment in the fashion and textiles sector.

M&S support and guidance will help upscale production capacity, and identify opportunities for working with more local businesses and residents. The grant from Power to Change will be used to invest in new industrial equipment, so that Makers HQ can support the growth of local textile and clothing businesses.

Makers HQ is a unique collaboration between Plymouth College of Art, Millfields Trust and the Stonehouse local community to reignite fashion and textiles manufacturing in the city by creating jobs and providing work opportunities in its sampling studio.

All profits from this are reinvested into the provision of its training and education programmes. These focus on engaging and upskilling the local community to support progression into education and employment within the fashion and textiles sector. Sampling studio services include: pattern drafting, single samples, manual and digital pattern drafting and grading, and short production runs. Makers HQ’s training studio offers a diverse range of qualifications from entry level short courses to higher level apprenticeship programmes.