UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) is rooting for the success of North West Adoption Programme. Made Smarter, the technology adoption programme, is urging textile firms to adopt digitalisation to drive sustainability and growth. Digital textile printing produces less waste, requires little set-up and equipment, and uses fewer resources like water.

Around 125 companies from the sector based in the North West are embracing change by tapping into impartial expert technology advice, digital transformation workshops to help them take their first steps, a leadership programme, digital technology internships, and skills development support. Of these, 13 textile businesses supported by matched-funding, are investing in new digital technology to solve key challenges while increasing productivity, growth, and creating new high value jobs, UKFT said in a press release.

“The textile industry in the North West was at the centre of the first industrial revolution with technological advances enabling cottons, wools, silks and dyestuffs to be produced at unprecedented rates for export around the globe. It is fitting that Made Smarter is now offering its support and expertise to help the same industry embrace the opportunity to lead the fourth industrial revolution. Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the industry with supply chains broken, falling sales and regrettably, some businesses having to close. Rebuilding is an opportunity to create a more sustainable approach which enables better resilience by taking advantage of the new digital technologies. I am delighted that Made Smarter has been able to support so many of the region’s textile manufacturers to start their digitalisation journey. Our ambition now is to reach out to the hundreds of others across the region to support them to take their first steps to future-proof their business,” Alain Dilworth, North West Adoption Programme Manager at Made Smarter said in a statement.

UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) is rooting for the success of North West Adoption Programme. Made Smarter, the technology adoption programme, is urging textile firms to adopt digitalisation to drive sustainability and growth. Digital textile printing produces less waste, requires little set-up and equipment, and uses fewer resources like water.

“The success of the Made Smarter Adoption Programme in the North West has demonstrated the value of targeted support for SME manufacturers to help them take those first steps on their digitalisation journeys. The UK fashion and textile industry has a worldwide reputation for originality, quality, and innovation, combining skilled design and craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. To continue building on this achievement and ensure the UK remains competitive against global competition, manufacturers need to embrace current and emerging technologies, and the huge potential digitisation offers, as well as to raise the skills and productivity of the people who work in our sector to the highest level,”Adam Mansell, CEO of UKFT said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (GK)