Fashion industry "lobbying the Government hard” about new immigration rules

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Feb 17, 2017

Adam Mansell, chief executive of the UK Fashion & Textiles Association said the industry is lobbying the Government “very hard”, as concerns rise over the impact of Brexit on the fashion sector.

Speaking in an interview with Sky News, Mansell described a sense of “uncertainty” in the industry, with many businesses feeling nervous about the future.

The industry body is the most inclusive British network for fashion and textile companies, bringing together designers, manufacturers, agents and retailers to promote their businesses and the industry throughout the UK and internationally.

Since the EU referendum in June, UKFT has been speaking with the Government on behalf of the industry to ensure new adequate trade agreements are negotiated and assess the impact on prices, consumer confidence and free movement of workers.

"(We want) to make sure that any immigration system that is brought in, any points-based system, recognises that the UK should be open for all talent,” explained Mansell to Sky News.

"It's not just about your lawyers and your doctors, it's also about the people who actually sit on the machines. We need them."

The UK could lose its access to skilled workers, and there is a concern that the next wave of international designers may be held back by stricter immigration policies.

The fall in the pound has also increased import prices, and led to a fall in consumer confidence, however the industry has shown signs it remains resilient for the moment. The sector has risen in value by 8% from £26bn to £28bn between 2013 and 2016, and created nearly 10,000.