As part of our commitment to promote the wealth of careers, employers and training opportunities available in the UK fashion and textile industry, UKFT works with local industry, training providers, schools and recruitment organisations to deliver an annual series of career events and job fairs across the UK.

With a careers stand at each event, our team of industry experts offer advice, guidance and, in some cases, hands-on industry tasters to career advisors and new entrants. Our team is joined by employers and Education Partners who deliver demonstrations, highlight in-demand jobs, offer career guidance and suggest resources and opportunities. The information and activities provided on stand are tailored to each region ensuring guidance is specific to the local employment landscape.

The ‘have-a-go’ sessions are a great way for potential new entrants to get a taste of techniques, skills, and equipment used in the industry. Depending on the space and venue the sessions can include knitting, dyeing, colouring, computer-aided-design (CAD), weaving, fabric draping & modelling, industrial sewing, design and pattern cutting.

National, regional, and local job and training opportunities are promoted at the events and via UKFT Futures news and social channels. We encourage visitors to start their journey by joining the growing UKFT Futures community, specially designed to explore opportunities and find their path into a career in the UK fashion and textile industry.

How to Get Involved

Help us spread the word about careers, training and opportunities across the industry. Here’s how you can get involved:

Employers

• Send your job opportunities for UKFT to promote for free on UKFT Futures and at events
• Join us at an event to promote the fashion and textile industry
• Donate your time and/or equipment to support our ‘have-a-go’ sessions
• Send products and information for us to display on stand
• Spread the word about UKFT Futures

 

Education Partners

• Join us at an event to promote what you do
• Donate your time and/or equipment to support our ‘have-a-go’ sessions
• Send information about your programmes and opportunities
• Send your apprenticeship vacancies for us to promote for free at events and on UKFT Futures
• Spread the word about UKFT Futures to staff and students

If you are not yet a UKFT Education Partner find out more.

 

Get Involved

 

2024 Schedule

Job Fairs

These events are aimed at job seekers and will promote the sector and local vacancies in each region.

• Exeter, Sandy Park Stadium, 4 September 2024
• Huddersfield, John Smith Stadium, 6 September 2024
• Derby, Pride Park Stadium, 11 October 2024
• Edinburgh, Tyne Castle Park Stadium, 30 October 2024
• Bristol, Ashton Gate Stadium, 8 November 2024
• Leicester King Power Stadium, 29 November 2024

 

Careers Events

Each event will attract between 5,000 and 6,000 visitors from schools and colleges including school leavers, students, parents and carers. We will be raising awareness of the industry, career paths, apprenticeships and education opportunities.

• North London, Saracens (the Stonex Stadium), 8 October 2024.
• South London, Kia Oval in, 5 November 2024
• Manchester, Salford City Stadium, 13 March 2025
• London, National career guidance show event, March/April 2025 (date tbc)

The Careers Stand and Pop-Up Factory initiative has been running since 2018 with the aim of bringing new entrants into careers across the fashion and textile industry with a particularly focus on UK manufacturing, a vital part of the industry.

“There are currently thousands of job vacancies in the UK fashion and textile manufacturing sector. While there are several reasons for this, the absolute key is that so many people don’t know that there is still a manufacturing industry here in the UK with a huge range of fantastic jobs available. Right now around 120,000 people are employed in the UK manufacturing industry and collectively they produce over £9 billion pounds of fashion and textiles every year.”

UKFT Chief Executive Adam Mansell

 

Regional Careers Fairs

 

The UKFT Careers Stand and Pop Up Factory has been showcasing at regional careers shows since 2018 including:

UKFT at Skills London
UKFT was joined by member Apparel Tasker in November 2022 where visitors could discover various vacancies advertised by local employers on our live job board. We also organised hands-on industry activities. Read more…

UKFT at Skills Cymru
UKFT was joined by Gower College and Fashion Enter, in October 2022, who delivered Industrial Sewing, Adobe and Pattern Cutting workshops. Read more…

UKFT at Skills Scotland
UKFT attended Skills Scotland in November 2022 with local industry partners. Activity included a Pattern Cutting and Draping workshop delivered by Glasgow Clyde College; Recycling activity delivered by ASC Clothing; Weaving and Screen Printing by Herriot Watt and Industrial Knitting by Barrie Knitwear Read more…

UKFT at the Skills Yorkshire Show
UKFT joined Burberry, Keighley College and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership at the Skills Yorkshire Show in November 2019 to promote the thriving industry in Yorkshire, with a range of career paths that can offer international opportunities. Read more…

UKFT at the Derbyshire Skills Festival
At the Derbyshire Skills Festival in September 2018 UKFT members John Smedley, David Nieper and specialist training provider KTL Ltd, worked with young people to show them what kinds of skills would be involved in a promising career in the industry. Read more…

UKFT at the Festival of Making
At the Festival of Making in Blackburn in 2018 UKFT was joined by Blackburn College and Herbert Parkinson of the John Lewis Group to promote the fashion and textile sector. Over the two day period we helped around 350 people to create a sewn product on our industrial flatbed machines and overlockers, with a further with 1,500 visitors stopping to view the stand and exhibits.

Contributing companies included Gledhills, Milliken Industries, Cookson & Glegg, John Spencer Textiles, Ian Mankin Textiles, Reed Medical Footwear, Panaz Textiles, Mallileus woven, Linzi Jay Bridal, Herbert Parkinson, The Senator Group and Lantex Homeware.