It was a big day at Leicester’s Fashion Hub on 16th April 2025. First off was a manufacturers and stakeholders meeting. This provided an opportunity to discuss new ways forward for the sector and review potential funding opportunities for the future.
This was followed by an awards ceremony for almost 50 learners, some in attendance with their children, to receive their official course certificates. A big thank you to Councillors Elly Cutkelvin, Deputy City Mayor – Housing, Economy, and Neighbourhoods and Peter Chandler, Head of Economic Regeneration for their involvement.
Elly Cutkelvin said: “I’m truly honoured to be part of this certification event. I was thoroughly impressed by the outstanding work that Fashion Technology Academy is doing, not only in offering valuable qualifications but also in fostering confidence and equipping individuals with employability skills and knowledge. It was wonderful to speak with the learners and hear about their ambitions.”
Peter Chandler commented: “I have known FTA / Fashion Hub for the past three years and have witnessed how they continually excel in delivering training and skill development for those passionate about fashion and textiles. It’s truly an honor to be part of this celebration and graduation event. Engaging with learners and hearing about their ambitions to build careers in the fashion industry brings so much positivity and inspiration to the field.”
Learner Habsa added: “I’m incredibly grateful to FTA for their support and guidance in helping me achieve my qualification in Fashion and Textiles. This accomplishment has truly motivated me to pursue my goals more confidently. I’ve always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, but I never knew where to begin. Thanks to FTA, I was able to complete my Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in Fashion and Textiles with FTA. Now, I’m proud to be enrolled in the Level 5 Fashion and Business Management course with SIRM, which FTA also recommended.”
Learner Zainab said: “I was delighted to pursue my qualification with FTA. I completed Level 1 in Stitching, Level 1 in Workers’ Rights, and Numeracy in Fashion and Textiles. I also advanced to the Skills Bootcamp course in Fashion and Textiles, which ultimately helped me secure full-time employment with Barrie Knitwear. I am truly grateful for FTA’s support in helping me gain qualifications, knowledge about my rights as a worker, and the confidence to attend interviews and build my career in fashion industry. Great environment at fashion hub and also great support from all the tutors here.”
Divya, Operational Manager at Leicester’s Fashion Hub, concluded: “We are incredibly proud of all our learners who have successfully completed their courses. From September 2024 to March 2025, we supported 55 individuals in gaining a variety of qualifications, all of whom were economically active. Beyond helping them earn these qualifications, we guided them toward further education opportunities and trained them in employability skills. Additionally, we supported 36 learners with interview preparation for roles in various businesses and garment industries across Leicester, with 4 of them securing employment through this support. This experience has also greatly boosted their confidence in facing interviews. Congratulations to all our learners!”
It was wonderful to see the learners feel a sense of pride and achievement as they received their certificates. These learners spanned the Stitching, Patterns and Skills Bootcamp courses.
Well done to all, and a final thank you to Simon Platts who spent the day working to support Leicester in all ways possible.