Supporting future growth at Wilkie: UKFT’s Young Textile Technician Fund
25/06/2025
Two trainee textile technicians from Wilkie, based in Scotland, undertook a specialist loom technician training course at ITEMA Campus in Italy, supported by the UKFT Young Textile Technician Fund. Both Chelsea Guthrie (26) and Kieran Jaffreys (28) are employed by Wilkie, a leading manufacturer of technical textiles and industrial fabrics.
Founded in 1868 and headquartered in Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland, Wilkie has a long-standing reputation for innovation in textile technology. The company specialises in high-performance technical fabrics and operates globally, with manufacturing sites in China and North America, supplying a diverse range of customers around the world.
The trainees from the Scottish site attended the ITEMA R9500-2 loom operation and setup training, delivered on-site at the ITEMA Campus in Italy. The course offered in-depth technical instruction on loom operation, machine setup and troubleshooting techniques.
Chelsea said: “I think the training was not only beneficial but necessary. It allowed a much deeper dive into the technology – stripping looms and reviewing bit by bit the workings of technology. I definitely got more understanding of weaving technology and boundaries of machines’ capabilities. This definitely will allow me to progress in the technician job with much more confidence.”
The Operations Director, explained:
“We’re delighted to welcome Chelsea to the technician team — a significant achievement and one to be proud of at just 25. As Wilkie’s first female technician, she marks an important milestone in the company’s history. Chelsea is widely supported by her colleagues, who value her strong work ethic and technical skills.’’
Kieran Jaffreys, who joined Wilkie at age 25 with a background in trade and distribution, has now completed his technician training and is fully qualified.
“The training was extremely valuable in helping me understand how the machines and technology work,” said Kieran.
“It was a great experience to see the machines being built and learn about the wide range of technologies available through ITEMA. It’s played a key role in my development and qualification as a textile technician.”
His line manager praised Kieran’s commitment to the role:
“Kieran has always been eager to develop and take on new knowledge. He’s deeply involved in many areas, from textiles to quality assurance and safety. After 18 months of in-house training, he was thrilled to attend the ITEMA course and came back full of ideas, sharing insights about new features and technological advancements. It’s inspiring to see such enthusiasm for textiles.”
The company sees technician development as essential to its long-term strategy.
‘‘The quality of our people is key to company success,’’ said the Operations Director.
‘‘This training with OEM is key as it combines the professional training and informs about modern solutions available for weaving technology. Wilkie recognises that professionalising roles such as technicians leads to improved quality and efficiency. Investing in training helps attract and retain talent, which is increasingly important in today’s competitive landscape”
He continued:
‘‘Recently acquired by Wilkie, this new factory is the first step on our new business strategy for significant growth in coming years. This combined with number of technicians progressing to supervisory, managerial and new product development positions and retirements, leaves us with shortage of technicians on the shop floor. Without technicians the growth won’t be possible. ‘‘
The Young Textile Technician Fund will cover 50% of the costs of in-depth training for young textile technicians, thanks to the generous support of The Worshipful Company of Weavers, The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers and The Worshipful Company of Drapers.
The Young Textile Technician Fund is now open to businesses applying to train textile technicians under the age of 35. To find out more, email katie.robinson@ukft.org
Want to learn more about the Young Textile Technician Fund? Click on the link below: