During ‘Make It British’ at the Business Design Centre last month the Fashion-Enter team met with a number of potential clients looking for production services such as pattern cutting, sampling and small run production. With a growing list of names wanting to see first-hand all the services we provide at the Factory and Fashion Studio we invited potential clients to an Open Day on the 20th June and then networked them to the current learners at the FTA and apprentices too.
The idea was two fold – to help new potential clients review the services that are offered but also to support the learning aims of the FTA so learners can feel confident to network with potential employers in the future. In particular we wanted to encourage clients to consider the very many benefits of apprenticeships and how the programme works and hear first hand from the apprentices themselves how much learning is involved that’s right for SME businesses.
The hour and a half talk and tour began with Production Director Caroline Ash explaining ‘what is an ethical factory’ in the Glass room. The keen group of visitors and learners asked lots of questions and were eager to understand the factory processes to help them with their own projects and start-up brands for now or either in the future for the learners.
Caroline was also keen to highlight the diversity and inclusivity of FEL and encouraged all clients and learners to consider this with their own companies in the future. Over 10% of the w
orkforce for FEL is differently-abled and they have a positive enriching affect on the entire company. Caroline expressed that synergy is so important in a company that employs over 12 different nationalities.
Caroline also discussed prevent and safeguarding of clients, learners and staff stating that the company has to be flexible and nimble at all times.
Caroline then took them on a tour of the Factory covering all aspects of the production process having particular emphasis on health and safety and highlighting the compliance that is required within factories. The group then headed over to the Fashion Studio where the manager, Jenny Beth Golding (pictured above), discussed how the studio works, setting up initial appointments, membership discounts and all the services they provide from bespoke one-off pieces to short run production from 1 unit to 300 units.
The session rounded off by inviting the group to ask any further questions.
Feedback included: “I have learnt what to look for when sourcing for an ethical factory, I also learnt what to do to get help from the Fashion Studio to start a business. A wonderfully transparent company.” – Wilhemina Bruce Larbi
“I have learnt so much about health & safety in the two units on the Level 3 apprenticeship but it’s only when you see it in practice that you understand how much there is to learn and why it’s really important. Caroline explaining about the pin policy and broken needle policy with fines of £10,000 brought all that information back to me. I found it a bit dull at the time but now I know why it’s vital.” – Apprentice ZH