07 Feb Fashion Manufacturing Outlook 2022-23 with the Foundation for Science and Technology

On 25^th January FEL CEO, Jenny Holloway, attended the Royal Society meeting for hardtech and high-value manufacturing technologies to gain the latest information on digital transformation for the fashion industry. 

Organised by the Foundation for Science and Technology the information provided is an important macro variable for designers of the FC Designer Workspace (FCDW) to cope with change management and the latest technology advancements. Jenny also attended to find out if funding streams were available for the creative side of the FCDW brands. 

The event included talks on:

What is the role of hardtech and high-value manufacturing companies to the UK economy?

How do these companies work with the UK research base? 

How do they contribute to the innovation strategies of the UK and devolved governments, to skills development, and to levelling up, as part of the post-Covid recovery? 

And what should policymakers, funding agencies and the companies themselves be doing do to ensure that we maximise the value to the UK from these innovative companies? 

Guest speakers included Peter Marsh, Made Here Now, Will Butler-Adams OBE, CEO of Brompton, Katherine Bennett CBE FRAeS, CEO at High Value Manufacturing and Dr Edmund Ward, Head of Advanced Manufacturing and Resources, Department of Business, Energy & Industry Strategy.

One of the major themes reiterated was the strengths and opportunities that are available now for the designers and learners, particularly in innovation for resource efficient initiatives. 

Nurturing UK Talent and Development:

• The UK is home to four of the top 10 universities in the world today 
• We draw in proportionally more internationally mobile R&D than other large countries, with almost 15% of UK R&D investment financed from abroad and about 50% of R&D performed in UK.  
• Generous UK tax relief to support innovation. It was this point that FEL has now decided on how we can support the designers further at the FCDW and we have asked R&D research company Invennt to come and give a presentation to the designers and learners.  We are currently waiting for a date for this meeting to take place.

FEL actively networks at these informative events to ensure that designers at the FCDW have the right opportunity to apply for bids and funding to support each brand as best as they can. 

The evening started at 6pm and went on until 10pm and was attended by Jenny Holloway. Thank-you to the Foundation for Science and Technology.