UKFT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Company Secretary
Adam is the CEO of UKFT.
Adam joined the industry 25 years ago and has worked across a wide number of trade bodies. Having represented all aspects of the fashion and textile supply chain, Adam has links to every part of the industry, from design, fabric and component suppliers, wholesalers, brands, manufacturers and retail.
Adam leads the team at UKFT and has overseen the expansion of UKFT's activity and membership. The organisation represents a wide range of UK fashion and textile businesses, helps hundreds of brands with their export strategy and is the government appointed Sector Skills Body for the industry. Adam has also led on the development of the manufacturing membership of the organisation. As well as running the organisation Adam focuses particularly on government relations, regularly briefing Minsters, MPs and civil servants.
Adam also represents the industry on a wide range of panels and groups. He is Chair of the Future Fashion Factory, a £5 million industry research project and a Board Member at the University of Leeds' School of Design Industrial Advisory Board. He is Vice President of Ginetex, the international care labelling organisation. Adam is also the project lead on a £1m project working with IBM and Tech Data looking at sustainable supply chain optimisation. Adam is on the board of trustees at CAPITB Trust, an independent charity providing support and funding for "people employed or about to be employed in the British clothing industry". He also sits on the advisory board of Textiles 2030 and the steering committee for the Institute for Positive Fashion.
Alan is responsible for the leadership, strategic direction and executive management of global textile design and manufacturing company Camira Group. He gained a Masters degree in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at Newcastle University, before beginning his professional career as a Process Engineer at the global electronics company Philips. He then moved to construction materials company, Owens Corning, to become Operations Leader, before joining Camira's predecessor Interface Fabrics in 2004. Quickly promoted to the position of Operations Director, Alan joined the main board in 2005 and was part of the team which completed the management buyout from Interface to set up Camira in 2006.
For the past two decades he has been responsible for establishing Camira as a centre of manufacturing excellence, a leader in textile sustainability, and the name behind fabrics which are used by millions of people every day, on busy public transport and in a wide range of commercial interior settings. He has been instrumental in several company acquisitions to extend Camira's vertical manufacturing capabilities, develop new technologies, and enter new markets and geographies. He became COO in 2020 and CEO in 2021.
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Skills & Training Consultant
Alice has significant experience in industry and skills support agencies. She has been employed by a number of well-known fashion brands and now in addition to her skills consultancy, runs her own tailoring business. Whilst working for the Sector Skills Council delivering employer engagement, skills need analysis and provider assessment, Alice provided information, advice, and guidance in relation to training, apprenticeships and skills to businesses across London. She has co-ordinated and been involved in various fashion and textiles projects and initiatives including the development and delivery of production masterclasses in universities across the UK and assessment of training provision in relation to the Creative Skillset kitemark, a quality-stamp which assessed and awarded courses that met employer demand.
Belinda gained a Bachelor of Education degree and began her career as a physical education teacher before going into marketing with a telecommunications company. It was whilst working in the Scottish Borders that she developed an interest in the cashmere knitwear industry, which at that time was still steeped in classic design and traditional production methods. Belinda recognised the potential of cashmere as a fashionable luxury item and, encouraged by a manufacturer Belinda designed her first collection.
Before starting her own label, Belinda worked with internationally famous labels including Nina Ricci, Michael Kors and Dior. Belinda Robertson Ltd. was established in 1992 and came to be defined by modern, flattering cashmere garments.
Job Titles:
- Head of Design at Pantherella
As head of design at Pantherella, Carol Bielak combines her extensive knowledge of yarns and knitting machinery and a flair for colour to develop a premium ‘made in England' sock collection that is sold all around the world.
Carol started her career working for hosiery manufacturers including Byford Hosiery Corah and Crowther Hosiery, before joining premium sock brand Pantherella in 1988.
Job Titles:
- Skills & Training Manager
Celia has worked in the fashion and textiles industry as an employee, an employer and an educator. Initially working as a Training Supervisor within apparel manufacture, Celia became a qualified trainer and assessor for Kingscourt, the training arm of the industrial training board (CapitB) and later transferred to the Sector Skills Councils, managing apprenticeship development and delivery, National Occupational Standards (NOS) and sector-specific qualifications. As an independent consultant she has written and delivered widely recognised practical industry training programmes, developed the new apprenticeship standards for the stitching industry, externally moderates current qualifications, and her work as Head of Skills at the Alliance Project involved developing and managing various initiatives designed to promote, develop and support sector skills and careers
Job Titles:
- Knitting Machine Operator at British
Cliff Johnson is a knitting machine operator at British knitwear brand and manufacturer John Smedley. Over almost 20 years, he has worked his way up to being one of the company's most skilled knitters and values the company's long heritage, its export prowess and the feeling of community spirit.
Cliff Johnson joined John Smedley in March 2001, attracted by the company's dedication to craftsmanship built up over generations. The British knitwear brand and manufacturer was founded in 1784 and is the oldest factory still in operation, a fact which Cliff relishes.
Colin McColm joined Alex Begg five years ago, working firstly in the warehouse before taking up the role of knotter, a critical role in the production of luxury woven accessories.
Colin had previously worked in restaurants, shops, warehouses and nightclubs before spotting the role at local company Alex Begg, which works with some of the world's most prestigious fashion houses as well as its own label Begg x Co.
"I started working in the warehouse, picking the scarves before moving through to the shipping department. After a couple of years, there was an opening for a knotter as someone had retired. The chance to be part of producing the cloth was something that really excited me as I have always been creative and I loved the product.
"I'm from the local area - I now live about eight miles away - but I had no idea that this factory existed. I wish I did - it would save me doing all the different jobs to get here," he says.
He received in-house training for the first six months before he was proficient enough in the role to go it alone.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Manager
- Employee
Euan Dalgliesh is the assistant manager at the weaving mill of Macnaughton Holdings, a family-owned company founded 1783 and based in the small town of Keith in the Scottish Highlands. He was born into the textile industry and gained a wealth of experience at firms including Gardiners of Selkirk (where he served his apprenticeship), Bridgehaugh Dyers, DC Dalgliesh and Locharron of Scotland before joining Macnaughton in 2014.
Today Macnaughtons operates from three sites: the head office in Perth, kilt manufacturing in Paisley and weaving in Keith, where Euan works. The company specialises in Highlandwear with an in-house brand called the House of Edgar, and furnishing fabrics, with an in-house label called Isle Mill. In January this year, the firm relaunched a Paisley heritage brand called Whitehill and Wilsons, for the manufacture and sale of accessories.
Euan is a trained tuner, a technical role which involves setting up the weaving looms and adjusting tolerances to meet exacting requirements, but always wanted to move into management.
"As a tuner, it lets you see an awful lot of a company and you can learn as much as possible, which sets you up well for management," he says.
One of the things that attracted Euan to Macnaughtons is the company's forward-thinking approach, explains Euan. Kilting tartans used to be made on old shuttle looms but they could be noisy, dirty and sometimes dangerous.
Job Titles:
- Fashion Membership Manager
Job Titles:
- Factory Manager
- Factory Manager at
Gary Billingham joined the Ettinger factory aged 16 and has worked his way up over the past 40 years. With a wealth of experience under his belt, today Gary is the factory manager and the company's main pattern and sample maker. He plays a central role in the development process and loves starting with a blank page to create a luxury quality product that sells.
Ettinger leather goods are made to the highest quality standards in its factory in Walsall, employing skills and techniques that have been passed down for generations. Gary runs the Ettinger factory, formerly known as James Homer Ltd, which was established in 1890 in the northern outskirts of Birmingham.
Gary joined James Homer, where his mother worked as a press cutter, in 1979 in a temporary role but quickly discovered he had an aptitude for working with leather.
"I had a good attention to detail and my eyesight was good so I made a good start - I was amazed that it could take 20 to 30 different cuts to make one wallet," he says.
As factory manager, Gary is also focused on attracting new younger workers into the company, in order to ensure these specialist skills are passed down the generations.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chairman
- Non - Executive Director
- Trustee of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust
Having grown up with the John Smedley brand as an 8th generation family shareholder, Ian chose to begin his career within finance working for 3i plc, the UK's largest private equity provider. Following this, Ian began a 14 year advancement through niche multi-channel retailer Orvis, leading areas across buying and sales for both the US and UK. The brand saw rapid growth during the period, expanding from 4 to 27 shops, and Ian ultimately took charge of sales and marketing within the UK.
Having grown up with the John Smedley brand as an 8th generation family member, Ian joined the business as a Non-Executive Director in 2000, progressing to Chairman in 2008, and finally becoming Managing Director in 2010. In 2013, John Smedley was granted the Royal Warrant of Appointment by Her Majesty The Queen, and received a visit from Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh in 2014.
Under Ian's leadership the brand has consistently moved forward, not only developing its design aesthetic to attract new consumers, but also strengthening its core values as a contemporary luxury brand. Ian has led the company to increasingly profitable growth in the last few years.
He was awarded an MBE for services to the UK textile industry and the Covid-19 response in Her Majesty The Queen's Birthday Honours list 2020.
Ian became a Trustee of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) in May 2020 and has specific responsibility for the Charity's finances. QEST is the UK's premier charity support ing excellence in British craftsmanship through Scholarship funding.
Job Titles:
- Director of Innovation and Sustainability
John Smedley is one of the last of its kind to manufacture 100% of its products in the UK and one of the few remaining vertical manufacturers, buying yarn and knitting it into garments on site. Cliff is a central part of the company's production team in a specialised role, with responsibility for producing collars, pockets and anything that doesn't form the main part of the garment.
He spent a couple of years working in the yarn room before moving into the rib and trim section, undertaking some structured training as well as picking up skills passed down from colleagues on the company's Shima Seiki knitting machines. He says the most important things in his role are a commitment to quality and working well under pressure.
Job Titles:
- Director of Skills & Training
John has extensive expertise in sector-specific skills development and delivery, with experience of working within the industry, further education, and the skills system. He has managed various Fashion & Textiles Courses, the East Lancashire Centre of Vocational Excellence and numerous Sector Skill Council contracts, including the development of National Occupational Standards, Qualifications, skills policy and Apprenticeship Frameworks across the UK. John now works at a more strategic level and is responsible for apprenticeship quality assurance, qualification review, policy writing, stakeholder relationship management and overseeing development and delivery of the new the Fashion and Textiles Apprenticeship portfolio.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of Pantherella and Fifth Generation Sock Maker in His Family, Says These Skills Take Years to Acquire
Justin Hall, the managing director of Pantherella and fifth generation sock maker in his family, says these skills take years to acquire.
Job Titles:
- Sustainability and Innovation Assistant
Job Titles:
- Innovation and Sustainability Network Manager
Technically trained to a high level, Euan has worked his way up in the Scottish textile industry and now is helping to ensure employees at Macnaughton Holdings' weaving factory in Keith have a broad range of skills fit for the future.
Martin's background and experience in textiles span 23 years, covering skills and apprenticeship development, business and sales management. Martin has overseen client engagement across textile manufacturers for the last ten years, working as a Senior Manager at the industry's Centre of Excellence before joining the team at UKFT. He has extensive knowledge of the skills landscape and works as the interface between business and government funding. Martin is a qualified Tutor/Assessor and Quality Assurer of textile qualifications and led the national trailblazer apprenticeship developments across textile manufacturing disciplines. He successfully led his previous organisation through 3 OFSTED inspections as the lead nominee and has managed Government funded provision for over ten years.
Nigel Lugg OBE is Chairman of UKFT and a highly experienced consultant in European retail and global manufacturing. He was most recently Group Chairman of the Prominent Europe, which specialised in clothing supply. Prominent served a broad client base offering men's shirts and suits, womenswear and casualwear to retailers across Europe, with offices in Barcelona, Paris and Milan as well as London and Nottingham. It also owned the Chester Barrie brand and held the menswear licence for Richard James Mayfair.
Originally a buyer at Liberty and then House of Fraser, Nigel moved onto the supply side of the industry in the mid-80s when he became European CEO of Warnaco. Then in 1992 he became a founding partner of Prominent Europe, setting up the business in conjunction with the Itochu Corporation.
Nigel became CEO in 2002; at the same time as Itochu took full control of the company. He has overseen the company's development from shirt specialist to the broader role it has now.
He also led Prominent into the branded market, buying Chester Barrie in 1997. From one store on Savile Row the brand has now grown to 13 shop-in-shops in the UK and Italy and has a healthy wholesale business. The Richard James Mayfair licence began at the start of 2012 and already there are seven shop-in-shops in the UK and France.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Head of Department of Fashion and Textiles
- Professor
Professor Parikshit Goswami is Director of Technical Textiles Research Centre and the Head of Department of Fashion and Textiles at the University of Huddersfield.
Professor Goswami's areas of research are product development using flexible materials and application of chemistry for functionalising textiles. Professor Goswami manages a large portfolio of research concerned with fibre/polymer science, nonwovens, medical textiles, sustainable materials, nano and submicron fibres, and plasma treatments for functionalising textiles. He is a member of Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC), Education, Qualifications and Accreditation Board (EQAB), and is a Trustee of SDC.
Prior to joining the University of Huddersfield, Professor Goswami was the Director of Research and Innovation at the School of Design, University of Leeds and he led the Fibre and Fabric Functionalisation Research Group.
Job Titles:
- CEO of E.Tautz, Norton and Sons, Cookson Clegg and Community Clothing
Patrick's career in fashion has seen him revitalise Savile Row tailor Norton & Sons, revive luxury menswear brand E. Tautz, and launch Hammond & Co. in partnership with Debenhams, which resulted in the most successful designer collaboration in the department store's history.
He has collaborated with and consulted for many fashion brands including Christopher Kane, Christian Louboutin, The Kooples, Rag & Bone, John Lobb, Barbour and Cartier. He won Menswear Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2010.
Patrick is also a media commentator on sustainability and manufacturing and is best known as a judge on the hit BBC2 series The Great British Sewing Bee, now in its 7th series.
In 2013 Patrick was made Honorary Professor at Glasgow Caledonian University's School of Business and Society, in 2016 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, in 2017 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Heriot Watt University's School of Textiles and Design, and in 2018 he was named Co-Chair of HRH The Prince of Wales's educational charity ‘Future Textiles'. In the same year he gave a TED Talk about Community Clothing.
Throughout 2020 Patrick has been heavily involved in Britain's response to the COVID 19 pandemic. Production at his Cookson & Clegg factory switched to protective wear for NHS and other healthcare workers and he has launched and led the highly successful Big Community Sew campaign.
Job Titles:
- International Business Director
Job Titles:
- Textiles Membership Manager
Job Titles:
- Production Director at Alex Begg, Says
Peter Carty, Production Director at Alex Begg, says: "Colin is an experienced knotter who does not limit himself to his role and displays curiosity for learning. Colin has been instrumental and a change agent in implementing Single-Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED) within all weaving activities."
Job Titles:
- Sustainability and Innovation Assistant
The Simon Carter story began in 1985, Simon was studying and spent his free time pursuing his interest in vintage clothing and accessories in the stylish shops of Chelsea. His first business move came in the shape of a men's pewter brooch which he had manufacturedand sold successfully to one of Chelsea's most innovative jewellery stores. However, the company really found its niche when Simon developed the business to include cufflinks and watches, adding new product lines as the client list expanded.
The company continued to grow through the nineties adding in new products such as luggage and ties. Around this time Simon was crowned by the press as the ‘King of Cufflinks' for his iconic designs such as the Aspirin cufflink. Early 2002 saw Simon Carter significantly expand the product offer to include a menswear line. PB Tailoring were granted the exclusive, worldwide rights to produce suits and shirts under the Simon Carter brand. From the start, the range proved popular with both buyers and customers alike and the collection is now stocked in leading department stores around the world.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Allied Textiles Ltd. As Chief Executive
Stewart joined Allied Textiles Ltd. as Chief Executive in September 2007 from Chisty Home Textiles, where he was the Director responsible for Sales & Marketing. Previously, he had performed various international roles in Courtaulds Textiles plc, including Regional Sales & Marketing Director of the Asia Pacific fabric business, based in Hong Kong.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications
Helping businesses to train their young textile technicians, predominantly in weaving positions