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Fifteen Asian - owned knitwear companies from Manchester will be receiving a £50,000 training boost thanks to Manchester Training and Enterprise Council CrEC).
The TEC has won funding from the Government's Small Firms Skills Challenge, designed to boost training among small firms, to offer practical training in using computer aided flatbed kniffing machines.
At present most of Manchester's 170 knitwear firms use the machines, but have to rely almost exclusively on freelance technician/programmers because training is not available locally. Companies say courses which are held in Leicester and Germany are too expensive and too theoretical.
"Asian businesses have virtually no history of undertaking or promoting formal training, so we hope the programme will act as a role model to firms in other sectors. These companies see it as vital to their future survival, and we hope it will inspire others to investigate how training can help them compete and grow."
The training course has been developed by ERT Consultants Ltd of Rochdale, in consultation with knitting Industries Federation, and will focus on practical skills in operating the machines, garment production, sampling and finishing.
"Fifteen companies all based in and around central Manchester have formed a consortium to undertake this training, which will be held at UMIST (the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology)." said Ahmed Lambat from Manchester TEC.
* Manchester TEC has also won funding to help employees in engineering, construction and manufacturing upgrade their skills, by taking further qualifications or short courses through local universities and colleges.
For more information please contact:
Ahmed Lambat, Manchester TEC, tel 0161 236 7222 Jane Woodall, PR Executive, Manchester TEC, tel 0161 245 4852
