No national textile academy in the U.K.

Malcolm Campbell, managing director of Joseph H. Clissold cloth design and export firm in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, criticized Prime Minister Gordon Brown for rejecting plans for a national academy for fashion and textile skills. Campbell says that the failure to establish a national academy and “dumbing down” existing training programs would set back skills development and training in U.K. mills. “There has definitely been … a focus more on artistic elements rather than technical aspects, which are required if people are to develop their skills in this industry,” says Campbell. Innovation and Skills Minister Kevin Brennan responded that the academy proposal didn’t pass muster, nor does Skillfast U.K., the umbrella skills body for fashion and textiles, which is at risk of having its license withdrawn for noncompliance with regulations.