This International Women’s Day, we’d like to celebrate Brita Hirsch, Founder of The Tailoring Academy, for her work to enhance tailoring education across England.

Brita Hirsch pioneered a modern approach to heritage skills delivery when she founded the Tailoring Academy in 2018, to became accredited as the first training provider to deliver the SEG Level 5 Diploma in Bespoke Tailoring. The regulated qualification offers an alternative to the traditional apprenticeship to learners who already have relevant experience and wish to lift their skills set to a professional level.  

In 2024, on the back of a track record of helping dozens of graduates into employment, she was instrumental in bringing a modernised and highly pertinent Level 5 Apprenticeship standard to the sector as part of a trailblazer group under the patronage of the UKFT. 

In a significant boost for tailoring education across England, the Tailoring Academy will deliver the apprenticeship in partnership with the Textile Centre of Excellence. Employers who long suffered from the skills shortage in the sector can now train their own talent, fully supported by the two specialist providers and benefitting from generous government funding. Read more here.

Brita said:

“It has long been obvious to me that heritage bespoke tailoring skills are in high demand, by both employers (who experience a severe skills shortage) and young people wishing to enter the profession. At the same time, accessing training at a professional level appeared almost impossible for most. I therefore made it my mission to bring this quintessential British craft skill to those wishing to obtain a regulated qualification, or embark on an apprenticeship.”

Thank you Brita!

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UKFT’s focus on Skills and Training

As the Government appointed Sector Skills Body (SSB) for fashion and textiles, UKFT works to address critical skills gaps and develop industry-led solutions. We help to elevate the skills of the UK fashion and textile industry to maintain its competitive position globally. 

We bring together education and industry to respond to current and future workforce requirements. We develop new vocational and academic routes that meet the needs of business and promote careers and opportunities to the next generation. 

We help fashion and textile businesses to attract, train and retain the best. 

UKFT SKILLS & TRAINING