The opening of the Deni-Deni Academy marks an important step in developing future talent for the UK’s leather and footwear sector, creating new opportunities for young people to gain practical skills and accredited training before they leave school.

UKFT has been supporting the set up of the academy since its inception. Speaking at the launch, John West, UKFT’s Director of Skills and Training, highlighted the significance of the initiative for both the industry and the next generation of makers.

“It’s great to be here at the opening of the Deni-Deni Academy. It’s going to be a fantastic place for young people to come and learn the skills that are needed for the industry. It gives young people who might not otherwise get this opportunity before the age of 16 the chance to make things with their hands, to be taught by the best, to gain an accredited qualification and, hopefully, secure a job.”

Luxury leather goods company Deni-Deni has established the Academy to introduce students aged 14 to 16 to careers in leathercraft and footwear. As an approved SEG training centre, the Academy will begin delivering a Level 1 qualification in July 2026 to an inaugural cohort of 12 students, while also offering training opportunities for industry professionals and private learners looking to develop or refine their skills.

Founder Denise Pearson said the Academy was created to address the decline in practical skills education and to inspire confidence in young people through making.

“When I was at school there were departments for needlework, metalwork and woodwork, but many of those opportunities no longer exist,” she explained. “We found that young people coming through our doors often lacked those practical foundations. The Academy is about filling that gap, helping them experience the satisfaction of creating something by hand and showing them career paths they may never have considered. At the same time, we want to support existing creatives through professional training and specialist workshops.”

The initiative received strong backing from across the leather and footwear community.

Bridie Rimmer of the National Leather Collective described it as “such an opportunity”, adding that she would have embraced a programme like this when leaving school and believes it will “open so many doors” for young people.

Richard Swift of Dancewear Supplies Ltd reflected on the region’s manufacturing heritage, noting that footwear production had been central to the Rossendale Valley for more than a century before much of the industry moved overseas. He said the Academy offers an opportunity to preserve fundamental manufacturing skills, reconnect young people with their local industrial heritage and potentially inspire future entrepreneurs who could help strengthen UK manufacturing.

Ben Clements of Blunt Shank, which makes handmade trainers, welcomed the creation of educational opportunities for leathercraft and footwear in the north of England, highlighting the importance of creating spaces where experienced practitioners can share knowledge with emerging designers and students.

Jonathan Fawcett of David Fawcett, a model making service for the marine industry. emphasised the value of making by hand, describing the act of creating physical objects as deeply meaningful and suggesting that working with materials such as leather can have positive personal and wellbeing benefits.

The Academy has also attracted support from organisations championing heritage crafts. Catherine Morris of The Worshipful Company of Saddlers said traditional skills such as leatherworking, shoemaking and accessory making make an important contribution to the economy, strengthen communities and help individuals discover talents that may not emerge in conventional academic settings.

Patrick Burns of Walsall Leather Skills Centre and Richard Brown of Abbey England, wholesale supplier of premium British made materials and tools, both stressed the importance of investing in education to rebuild the UK’s manufacturing base. Brown called for continued collaboration to help young people establish new leather businesses, while Burns reinforced the shared ambition of nurturing the next generation of skilled craftspeople and supporting the long-term future of British manufacturing.

By combining accredited education with hands-on experience and close links to industry, the Deni-Deni Academy aims to equip young people with practical skills, confidence and a clearer pathway into careers in leather goods and footwear manufacturing, while helping safeguard specialist craft skills for future generations.

VISIT THE DENI-DENI ACADEMY WEBSITE

Deni-Deni is a UKFT Education Partner. Find out more about UKFT membership here.