UK garment manufacturers are moving closer to securing access to government contracts as industry leaders work to open new public procurement opportunities.
The Apparel & Textile Manufacturers Federation recently hosted a meeting with factory owners to discuss progress and the next steps for the sector. The session focused on helping UK manufacturers compete for public sector contracts.
Factories also received legal guidance from Roy Botterill. Industry leader Martin Traynor attended and offered his support for the initiative.
The Federation also confirmed that a new consortium is now forming. This group will help members work together when bidding for public contracts.
A Major Opportunity for UK Manufacturers
Government procurement represents a huge opportunity for the UK manufacturing sector. The public procurement budget is estimated at £400 billion per year.
The Public Procurement Act 2023 aims to improve access for small and medium sized enterprises. Industry leaders believe the law could open new routes for UK garment factories.
Many manufacturers want stable and long term orders. These contracts would allow factories to invest, grow production and create new jobs.
Labour Please Support Your Manufacturing Industry
Industry leaders are calling on policymakers to back UK garment manufacturers. Labour, please support your manufacturing industry by ensuring public procurement contracts prioritise UK based factories.
Rethinking Where Government Buys From
Many industry figures believe the government should prioritise UK factories when awarding clothing contracts. Some large contracts currently involve holding companies that do not manufacture garments in the UK.
One example is Leidos UK, which forms part of Leidos Holdings Inc., a major US based defence and technology company.
Manufacturers argue that many garments supplied to the public sector could be produced domestically. They believe this would strengthen the UK supply chain and support local employment.
Contracts Worth Millions
Several large contracts show the scale of the opportunity.
Combat garment frameworks for military uniforms have estimated values between £128 million and £153.7 million.
Army full dress uniforms represent contracts worth around £10 million to £12 million.
Specialised maritime clothing for the Royal Navy has estimated framework values of up to £84.4 million.
Industry leaders believe UK factories could manufacture many of these garments.
Opportunities may also exist for other public sector clothing. These include PPE, police uniforms, prison service clothing and garments used by emergency services and education staff.
Supporting New Designers and Small Businesses
The Federation continues to support the wider fashion ecosystem alongside these procurement discussions.
Later the same day, the organisation hosted a Designer Drop In Day. The event connected micro fashion businesses and start up designers with UK garment factories.
The initiative helps new brands understand how to produce garments in the UK. It also strengthens relationships between designers and manufacturers.
The Apparel & Textile Manufacturers Federation believes these initiatives will help rebuild the UK garment manufacturing sector. Industry leaders now hope public procurement contracts will play a key role in that future.