UK
The sun was shining in the Lakeside Suite at the Jury’s Inn Hinckley Island Hotel as members of the Textile Services Association gathered for the, now annual, Sector Interest Group meeting with their trade association.
TSA Chairman, Charles Betteridge, opened the day with a welcome and an encouragement to members to utilise the Knowledge Networks and the website resource.
GK Strategy’s Matt Palutikof took us straight into the debate topic of Brexit. Providing an overview of steps so far and his views on where it may go. There were several questions from the floor, centred around whether Italy’s recent events will affect the Brexit negotiations.
Philip Wright, TSA’s CEO, informed members of the latest traction he’s achieved with MP meets and covering the Sector profiles and priorities for TSA work.
Following on from understanding what the TSA has been doing outwardly, a new inward focussed campaign was launched – the latest enhanced member benefit of Croner Consulting’s services which come as part of the membership package at TSA. Further information about the new enhanced service can be found on here.
After the morning sessions, the real work began, and Philip lay down the day’s mission to craft a Member Charter with sector-specific areas. Members headed off into their respective groups (healthcare, workwear and hospitality) to scope the priority areas that they would want to be held to account for. These priority areas will be built into a Member Charter that all TSA members will be asked to sign up to.
Topics ranged from the general:
Business sustainability
Health, Safety & Environment
Systems and Processes including people
Through to sector-specific areas like:
HTM 01-04 for Healthcare
Clarity on residual value charging for Workwear
After the break out sessions and lunch, delegates came together again to feedback and then hear the launch of the National Conference 2018. TSANC18 carries the theme of “The Future of Textile Services: Industry in 2035” and will be held at the May Fair Hotel in London.
To finish the day, Gillian Farrar – TSA’s Head of Membership & Communications – hosted an apprenticeship panel to inform delegates on the Textile Services Operative apprenticeship development, and the opportunities for their businesses to embrace apprenticeships as a route to keeping and attracting talent. Tracey Waterfield of Leicester City Council provided some detailed information on funding rules and apprenticeship opportunity and, David Kinson, retired Training Manager from Johnsons Apparelmaster and TSA consultant, detailed the reasons why employers should be keen to utilise the industry-specific apprenticeship.
Courtesy of the TSA https://www.tsa-uk.org/news/creating-the-space-to-enhance-the-industry.html
