Footwear firm welcomes free apprenticeship proposal
The managing director of handmade footwear brand Tricker’s, Martin Mason, has welcomed a new proposal from the UK government to make apprenticeship training free for people under the age of 25.
Speaking to the BBC on the day of the announcement, Mr Mason said Tricker’s had not find it easy to recruit apprentices in recent years, although he said a programme the Northampton-based company has in place was proving successful. “I’m very proud that one of our apprentices is now one of our bespoke shoemakers,” he said.
He insisted that he would need to see more detail about the new proposal, but he said a move to attract more young people into vocational training would be welcome. “Anything that supports manufacturing has got to be a bonus,” he added.
Mr Mason went on to say that UK-based manufacturers, including Tricker’s, deserved as much support as they could get. “We’ve come through covid-19, and we’ve come through Brexit,” he explained, adding that the UK’s departure from the European Union had had “a profound effect on our exports into Europe”.
He added that a move in 2021 to end tax-free shopping for visitors had also cost brands a large amount of lost revenue. “Luxury shoppers are still spending,” he said, “ but they are going to Madrid or Paris or Milan, and are choosing not to buy in London.”
Image: Tricker’s.
