Talented graduates can access funded work placements to help them enter the UK woven textile industry through the Entry to Work scheme from The Worshipful Company of Weavers.

The Worshipful Company of Weavers is the oldest recorded City Livery Company, with its roots in the weaving trade of the Middle Ages. Today, the company has substantial charitable funds available with which it seeks to encourage and facilitate the flow of talented graduates into the UK woven textile industry. The company gives scholarships and prizes to weave students, grants for capital equipment and yarn to textile colleges, as well as funding work placements through the “Entry to Work” scheme.

The Worshipful Company of Weavers uses its contacts in the woven textile industry to secure offers of six-month placements in the industry. The Weaver’s Company is also in touch with students graduating from college through prize schemes and through the universities which it supports. Often, the company follows a talented student’s progress from scholarship through college to graduation and employment. Its aim is to put the very best graduates and potential employers in touch.

It is often difficult to find room in a company’s budget to fund placements, so as an incentive The Worshipful Company of Weavers offers to fund 2/3rds of the first six month’s salary of a new employee under the scheme, up to a maximum of £6,000. The aim is that in six months the graduate will have had time to prove their worth to the employer.

The Worshipful Company of Weavers funds 8 to 10 placements a year. Historically most placements turn into full time jobs, although there is absolutely no obligation on either party to continue after the initial six-month period. The scheme also includes a lunch in London each February to which those involved are invited, and at which experiences of the scheme can be shared.

Should a company wish to consider offering a placement, the Weaver’s Company will select two graduates who match their criteria and send CVs to the company so they can start the interview process.  If a placement is subsequently confirmed, the Weaver’s Company would organise its funding direct to the employer, so the student receives their salary through the employing company’s PAYE system. Funding would be awarded in 2 instalments with the first payment made at the agreed start date and the second three months later, provided the graduate is still in post.  Any employment contract and working conditions, hours etc. would be a matter between the employer and the employee.

A shortlist of graduates is usually available by mid-July when the Weaver’s Company can contact companies offering placements at that time with CV’s of potential candidates.

Interested in finding out more?

Contact  David Collinge david.collinge@johnspencer.com, Gary Eastwood gary@pennineweavers.co.uk             and James Gaselee clerk@weavers.org.uk.