Join the discussion to bridge the skills gap and inspire future talent in the professional clothing industry.
Round Table 1 on the Skills Gap, Recruitment, and Industry & Education Engagement:
24th July 2025, 2:00PM - 3:15PM
HELP TO ADDRESS THE SKILLS GAP AND ALIGN INDUSTRY NEEDS WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
PARTICIPATING COMPANIES
The professional clothing industry is facing a critical skills shortage. Bridging the education gap is the immediate line of defence.
Industry leaders must balance and prioritise the evolving demands of professional clothing — from specialist technical skills and digitalised design to sustainable innovation — whilst addressing the widening education gap and ageing workforce threatening future growth.
0
%
of UK manufacturers say skill shortages are the biggest barrier to growth
0
%
of UK textile manufacturers have a workforce aged over 40
0
%
of fashion graduates are employed or in further study within 15 months — mostly outside technical roles.
The Skills, Training and Education Gap in the Professional Clothing Industry Session
The PCIAW® Round Table Series on ‘The Skills, Training and Education Gap in the Professional Clothing Industry’ will bring together stakeholders across the supply chain and academic institutions to address the growing disconnect between industry needs and graduate readiness, aiming to strengthen the future workforce through collaborative solutions.
The professional clothing industry relies on specialist knowledge to design and manufacture functional uniforms, workwear and PPE. PCIAW® is seeking to bridge the skills gap by fostering engagement between education and industry, promoting the sector as a hub for innovation in sustainable design, and ensuring a pipeline of talent equipped with practical, technical expertise.
The professional clothing industry relies on specialist knowledge to design and manufacture functional uniforms, workwear and PPE. PCIAW® is seeking to bridge the skills gap by fostering engagement between education and industry, promoting the sector as a hub for innovation in sustainable design, and ensuring a pipeline of talent equipped with practical, technical expertise.
ROUND TABLE TOPICS 2025
Round Table # 1 - What PCIAW® wants to know
- Workforce Age & Talent Retention: Concerns about the ageing workforce and strategies for retaining critical knowledge as employees approach retirement.
- Skills Gap in Professional Clothing Roles: Challenges in filling roles such as fibre technologist, garment technologist, and production managers, highlighting the most difficult positions to recruit for.
- Salary & Accessibility: Comparison of salaries between skilled workers in professional clothing and fashion industries, and the accessibility of skilled workers for senior leadership roles.
- Impact of Minimum Wage & Competitiveness: The effect of minimum wage on machinists and lower-paid roles, and the challenge of competing with other industries for skilled workers.
- Graduate Preparation & Industry Engagement: Evaluation of how well graduates are prepared in technical textiles and workwear, and the importance of university-industry collaboration for practical training.
