Boohoo : partner with Fashion-Enter in Leicester

7t h February 2022

BOOHOO GROUP ANNOUNCE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR L3 AND L4 APPRENTICESHIPS THROUGH

THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, FASHION-ENTER

• In the month that saw the boohoo group open the doors to their first UK manufacturing facility, the business confirm partnership with not-for-profit social enterprise Fashion-Enter
• The group have gifted £85,000 of their apprenticeship levy to support young people to earn whilst they learn
  The boohoo Group are passionate about educating the next generation, working to empower individuals to support and protect the future of the UK manufacturing sector and the unique skill base. As a major UK employer, the Group pays a significant apprenticeship levy and wanted to use this not just to empower its own employees, but those within the wider supply chain who might otherwise not have access to these kind of training courses and opportunities.
  Fashion-Enter will provide training and arrange placements for the students on behalf of the boohoo Group, with a focus on candidates from underrepresented communities within the Leicestershire area. The application process opens on 7th February, the first day of National Apprenticeship Week.
  This is just one initiative set up by the boohoo Group to support the rapid pace of change in their business. Externally, the Group's ambition is to offer a range of training to support garment workers across the sector, to better understand their rights and evolve their skills. The Group will also be supporting its suppliers by sharing insight on best practice at its Thurmaston Lane site, helping local business owners to improve their operational and production efficiencies and create long-term, sustainable businesses.
  Andrew Reaney - Director of Responsible Sourcing & Product Operations -
  'We are delighted to be partnering with Fashion-Enter and to be able to utilise some of our apprenticeship levy outside of the business to create opportunities for individuals who might otherwise not have had access. We have a long-standing partnership with our Leicester suppliers and activities like this cement our commitment to both them and UK manufacturing in general.'
  Jenny Holloway - Fashion Enter CEO -
  "We are delighted to be receiving this gift from the boohoo group. The FCFTA (Leicester) has had an excellent start and currently we are focusing on qualifications at level 1 and 2; this funding will now create higher level skills and engage in jobs with the local factories. We have already received an enquiry from one company requesting 10 sewing apprentices so this is superb timing! Thank you to the boohoo group!"

Notes to Editors

Those with an interest in getting into the fashion industry can apply for either: A level 3 Fashion Studio Assistant course, or

a level 4 product technologists' course via Fashion-Enter.

For further information about applications please contact Jenni Sutton - [e-mail]

Fashion-Enter

Fashion-Enter is an award-winning social enterprise that opened the FCFTA (Leicester) in November 2021 with collaboration from Leicester City Council. Additional funding has been received from the Community Renewal Fund

The Leicester Garment and Textile Workers Trust

The Trust's founding mission will be to create positive and lasting change for the benefit of the wider industry - providing guidance, advocacy and remedy to anyone working in the garment industry in Leicester. The Trust has been supported by a donation of £1.1m by the boohoo group and its founding Trustees bring with them expertise from the fields of modern slavery, enforcement, local community engagement and politics.

Boohoo group Thurmaston Lane Leicester - Championing Ethical British Manufacturing

• The manufacturing site started production in January 2022
• The 23,000 sq. ft. site delivers capacity for tens of thousands of garments, with facilities to support both made to order and printing
• The factory represents millions of pounds worth of investment into the local economy, delivering up to 200 new jobs
  For further information please contact: [e-mail]