A fantastic opportunity to work on small batch production skills for a luxury capsule collection that will be marketed and sold with a leading partner.

Future Makers Project Summary

We are currently looking to recruit six makers, who have a keen interest -and ability -in sewing and manufacturing fashion garments, to work on a seven-month project based at Dumfries House in Ayrshire in our purpose built training centre, developing small batch production skills and creating a luxury capsule collection for a leading partner. This project requires individuals with good sewing and construction skills. The project will consist of two parts. The first three months will be spent undertaking workshops in garment production skills to ensure that all makers can produce fashion garments to the highest standards using a variety of fabrics. The remaining four months will be spent in production, ensuring that the capsule collection is ready for distribution at the end of March 2020. The collection will be designed by a group of emerging designers who will be involved, together with our project partner, in overseeing the final samples and making sure technical requirements are met. Selected makers will need to be located near Dumfries House or live within daily travel distances. They will need to commit to the working week, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with break times in line with onsite staff. A bursary will be paid monthly to assist those on the programme with living costs.

Recruitment Process

Applications will be made and submitted digitally using the attached form which should be emailed to Future.textiles@princes-foundation.org putting Future Makers in the subject line.

A panel from The Prince’s Foundation Future Textiles team and our project partner will assess applications. Applicants will be notified if they have been selected for interview approximately one week before interview (earlier if possible).

We will have two interview dates, one in Scotland and one in London. Applicants will select the date which suits them best geographically by ticking the box on the application form. At interview, applicants will be asked to bring a portfolio of six garments that they have made themselves and a technical folio showing sewing and finishing skills (please note a design folio is not required).

If successful at interview stage, applicants will be invited to a second round which will be a competency assessment of their skills. (Reasonable travel costs/overnight accommodation, using the most cost effective means, will be covered for this skills challenge day.) The skills assessment will take place at Dumfries House, Ayrshire, KA18 2NJ, to allow candidates to familiarise themselves with the location of the project. On completion of the skills assessment day, candidates will be notified within 48 hours if they have been successful and follow up arrangements will be made. Candidates will be expected to find their own accommodation if they are relocating but advice will be given.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious recent HND or degree graduate, in a relevant discipline, seeking experience and looking to enhance their manufacturing skills in a challenging, fast paced environment that will require flexibility, a calm and methodical approach, excellent team work skills and a willingness to learn together with a good degree of technical ability.

Interview dates:

Dumfries House, Scotland, KA182NJ: Monday 8th July 2019

The Prince’s Foundation, 63 Charlotte Road, London: Thursday 12th July 2019

Skills Assessment date:

Dumfries House, Scotland: Tuesday 23rd July 2019

Successful applicants will be notified by: 29th July 2019

Please note that, due to the timeframe above, applicants must be available to attend these dates at the time of application. Successful applicants will be informed at least one week prior to the interview date.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide feedback on individual applications.

Key dates in the project for successful applicants:

Project start date: Monday 2nd September 2019

Completion date: Friday 27th March 2020

Applicant Criteria:

• Recent graduate from skills led courses e.g. Fashion Technology, Fashion Manufacturing and Design (HNC/HND/Degree level
• Focused on a career that utilises their technical skills
• High level sewing skills
• Good knowledge of construction techniques
• Understanding of complex patterns
• Good level of finishing on products
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment
• Organised and methodical
• Good team worker
• Excellent communication skills
• Committed to living in Scotland for the duration of the project
• Able to comply with our media plan for the project (photo consent and interviews)

How to apply:

Please send us the following information:

• Your name
• Contact details
• Details of your qualifications and experience
• Preferred option for interview location (Scotland or London)
• Personal statement*
• Digital portfolio**
• Reference***

*Personal statement - Please provide a personal statement of no more than 1000 words detailing why you would be a suitable candidate for the project referencing the criteria above.

**Digital Portfolio - Please provide us with your skills portfolio which includes 10 images that showcases sewing skills, close up details and finished garments.

***Reference - Reference should be from a recent employer/tutor and should highlight your suitability against the project aims and applicant criteria.

Please email your completed application by Tuesday 2nd July 2019 to Future.textiles@princesfoundation.org putting Future Makers in the subject line. Late applications will not be considered.

About Future Textiles:

Future Textiles is a textile education programme currently delivered at Dumfries House in Ayrshire and at Trinity Buoy Wharf in London by The Prince’s Foundation. The project was initiated by HRH The Prince of Wales who listened closely to the needs of the textile industry who wished to address an industry skills gap combined with a lack of new entrants. The project brings together industry and education in two unique settings in order to train the next generation in skills for the textile industry. This is achieved through the provision of a range of workshops suitable for secondary school pupils and those seeking employability skills as well as teacher CPD.

To date, over 4000 participants, including secondary teachers and pupils aged 11 – 18, have taken part in sewing, pattern drafting, embroidery and woven textiles workshops, as well as master classes and specialist training programmes for industry.

In May 2018 we launched our Textile Training Centre programme which is delivered in the newly refurbished sawmill, now known as The LVMH Textile Training Centre, in the grounds of Dumfries House estate. The programme focuses on the sewing skills required to support local and UK manufacturers in making quality products.

The project has received invaluable input since its inception from key retailers, fashion designers and fabric manufacturers, both locally and nationally. The project is co-chaired by Campbells of Beauly owner, John Sugden, and Patrick Grant, Director of Norton & Sons, E. Tautz, Hammond & Co, Cookson & Clegg and Community Clothing