Partner Article

David Rose of Fuda-Hobart Rose on apprenticeships

Through Government Initiatives and exposure in the media, ‘Apprenticeships’ have, in recent months, received significant attention which should focus companies large and small on the advantages of providing placements.

Fuda-Hobart Rose is a manufacturing company based in North Tyneside producing Home Furnishings and Occasional Furniture for major retailers. We additionally have our own manufacturing facilities in Mainland China, established in 1994. Since late 2010, as prices have increased offshore and with high freight charges and the extra cost of Import Duty we are gradually transferring production back to the UK with the added advantage of flexibility and shorter lead times to satisfy the changing fashion demands of our customers.

This strategy has brought with it an increase in employment and has highlighted the lack of skilled operatives in our industry which has resulted in the necessity to recruit staff who require training. Some 30 years ago there were more than 3000 employees in textile related manufacturing in North Tyneside producing for the likes of M&S, BHS and other High Street Fashion Chains and Furnishers. That employment has migrated overseas and with it the skills of the operatives working in the industry.

Considering the increasing number of youngsters who are unemployed and in particular those who have left education with no qualifications our industry can offer, through a structured Apprenticeship Programme, training which will lead to productive employment for youngsters who might otherwise face the future with no prospect of regular earnings and a dependence on benefits. We are developing a workforce whose skills add value to our business and boost productivity. In an industry which does not demand technical qualifications the training period is relatively short and the contribution of apprentices is soon visible.

The textile industry has existed for generations in Britain and its demise has been a significant element in the decline of employment in manufacturing.

At FuDa- Hobart Rose, we have grasped the opportunity to revive manufacturing here in North Tyneside helped in no small way by a recent and very visible move to offer products that are ‘Made in Britain’ by major retailers such as John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, NEXT and others.

The UK can no longer rely on the Service Industry to create employment to counter that lost from manufacturing; not the least of the reasons being that the service sector more readily makes use of the rapid advances in Information Technology at the expense of head count. How long will it be before there will be little need for Call Centres to support Credit Card Providers, Insurance Companies, etc.

The decline and consolidation on the High Street experienced over the past 3 years continues and will not be reversed. Britain must commit to a revival in manufacturing. Yes….this is happening in those fields where we lead with technical ability such as Energy Conservation and Sub-Sea Engineering but we must promote those industry sectors offering less of the ‘WOW Factor’…..industries providing employment to those who cannot aspire to be Engineers or Electricians or Computer Programmers.

Industries where apprenticeships will once again provide a workforce capable of reviving manufacturing lost to developing countries which themselves are now facing challenges in costs and industrial relations, such as China.

There are financial incentives readily available to companies which offer apprenticeships. Within our borough, both the North Tyneside Learning Trust Bursary, a financial award and the ‘Go4it’ Scheme which places young unemployed in companies for up to 2 months, at no cost, to allow assessment prior to the offer of employment or an apprenticeship; without commitment at the end of the period, whether that be a Sole Trader or an SME.

At FuDa-Hobart Rose we feel strongly that the apprenticeships we have been able to offer have provided a lifeline to the young people we have employed and at the same time the company is gaining skilled additions to our workforce, assisted by the appointment of a government funded Training Provider.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .