A new University of Leeds course will address a skills gap in the UK’s textile industry and ensure the future production of textiles is less harmful to our environment. The Textile Innovation and Sustainability BSc course will prepare students to address the environmental and societal challenges facing the industry worldwide. Starting in September 2024, the course will teach students how technology can drive the development of innovative and sustainable textile materials, processes and products.

It has been designed with the needs of the industry in mind with businesses providing placement and employment opportunities. Compulsory modules will help students to acquire a fundamental knowledge of the topic, while optional modules will help them to specialise in areas suited to their career aspirations.

David Collinge from the Worshipful Company of Weavers’ Textile Committee was instrumental in the development of the new course and said: “The course has been designed to meet the skills gap in the UK textile industry as we need trained textile technologists who can innovate sustainable solutions to global environmental and societal challenges. It has been many years since there has been a degree level course in this area and many of the technologists in the industry are aged 55 and over. There are currently very few younger, trained people in the UK to replace them as they retire.”