Skillfast-UK Common Threads Conference

More than a year ago, the Leitch Review of Skills called for the skills system to become more employer-focused. 

This special conference, organised by Skillfast-UK, was essential for anyone who currently delivers (or is thinking of delivering) learning or qualifications for the fashion and textiles sector. 

The conference looked at how fashion and textiles learning providers are already responding to the employer agenda, what more needs to be done, and what best-practice case-studies can teach us for the future.

The conference also provided an opportunity for The Design Association (DA) & Skillfast-UK to present the HE Work-Based Learning initiative they have been working on.

This initiative, The Diploma in Design Management, is a qualification that will enable individuals to develop essential business management and design process skills.

Christina Martinez Tsyrklevich MBA MCIM, Development Manager at DA, presented The Diploma in Design Management at both the Welsh and English conferences.

Christina has been part of the development team for the Diploma, which aims to address lifelong learning issues for designers.

The workshop she ran looked at the potential for a higher education workplace-based diploma in  England & Wales, and how this might work.

About Skillfast-UK

Skillfast-UK is the Sector Skills Council for fashion and textiles.

As a Sector Skills Council, we exist to help employers to compete in a global market, by ensuring access to a skilled workforce, capable of delivering added-value products and services.