The visit gave Anna the opportunity to see the scale and variety of work taking place inside our Shipley factory, from pattern development and cutting through to sewing, finishing and dispatch.

Alongside seeing the manufacturing process first-hand, Anna spent time speaking with members of our team and learning more about the specialist skills involved in producing our bespoke covers. With every cover made to order, our factory combines traditional manufacturing skills with modern technology and digital processes to deliver products tailored to individual vehicles, equipment and applications.

Without the Government understanding the issues of the wider supply chain and the impact their decisions have on manufacturing, we can only ensure UK retain the abilities to support across the textile network if they invest n. The current strategy to outsource for the cheapest price is eroding our sovereign capabilities and long term security.

For us, visits like this are a valuable opportunity to showcase the strength of UK manufacturing and the people behind it. As a long-established manufacturer based in Shipley, we are proud to continue investing in our people, technology and processes while developing new ways to support the future growth of the business.

The visit also provided an opportunity to look beyond our day-to-day manufacturing operation and discuss some of the projects and investments that are helping us shape the next stage of our development.

Alongside technology and digital innovation, we also discussed the importance of investing in the people and skills that underpin UK manufacturing. We discussed the current skills gap in the UK textile sector and the impact this has on the UK Defence and Government Readiness strategy. Investing in a stable, reliant and UK controlled supply chain has never been as important as it is in the current climate all whilst supporting works and the wider UK eco.

As a business that relies on highly skilled sewing and manufacturing expertise, developing the next generation of talent is something we are passionate about. We are currently looking to establish a Sewing School which is part of that commitment, helping to introduce people to the practical skills needed to build a career in manufacturing.

We discussed the opportunities, grant sup and challenges around developing these skills, as well as how greater support for initiatives like our Sewing School could help encourage more people into manufacturing.

For Specialised Covers, investing in technology and investing in people go hand in hand. Both are essential to ensuring we can continue manufacturing in the UK and building a skilled workforce for the future.