Helen Brocklebank, CEO, Walpole: “Prior to the pandemic, the British luxury sector was in rude health with a value of £48bn to the UK economy and strong annual growth of nearly 10%. Very much a British success story, the sector supported more than 160,000 jobs throughout the UK. However, international visitors to the UK are a crucial revenue driver, and the last 11 months has put severe pressure on their businesses. On top of the pandemic, the eleventh hour Brexit deal has compounded the sector's problems, making chances of swift recovery for British luxury recede compared to their European counterparts. With 42% of all British luxury export sales coming from the EU, the costs and administrative burdens of trading in continental Europe mean many of our members, not least the SME's, have concluded they simply can’t afford to continue selling to those countries.
Read MoreFashion Roundtable have submitted evidence to the Migration Advisory Committee in response to the open consultation on the Shortage Occupation List - the new points-based immigration system, applying to EU and EEA workers coming in the UK starting 1 January 2020.
Read MoreFashion Roundtable has produced a research document to analyse the current situation related to the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) for the fashion sector in the new points-based immigration system, applying to EU and EEA workers coming in the UK starting 1 January 2020.
Read MoreThe Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (Eu Withdrawal) Bill 2019-21 was introduced by the Home Secretary Priti Patel, in the House of Commons and it was given its First Reading on 4 March 2020. On the 18 May 2020, the Bill passed the Second Reading with 351 Ayes and 252 Noes. The Bill does not set out the future immigration system, which will apply to EU and non-EU citizens who move to the UK after the transition period. The future immigration system will be provided for in the Immigration Rules.
Read MoreBack to school, back to work, on the juice diet, or off the wagon. This week is all about facing up to those resolutions and seeing whether we can keep them…
Read MoreLast month, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Textiles and Fashion organised a meeting to discuss visas and employment in the garment manufacturing sector. Fashion Roundtable, which provides the secretariat for the Group, also launched a survey to collect data and insights from the garment manufacturing sector, which closes on the 6th of September.
Read MoreManufacturers, machinists, academics and policy makers gathered on Monday 8th of July to discuss visas and employment for the UK garment manufacturing industry.
Read More