Textile CoE to open in Hawick in early 2019

A Centre of Excellence (CoE) in textiles will open in Hawick, Scotland early next year. It was one of a range of “key projects” to boost the economy awarded funding by the South of Scotland Economic Partnership (Sosep) this summer.

The centre will be set up at a former mill building in the town. It will help to address “critical skills issues” in the sector and provide a range of training at “all levels” to a "wide range of individuals". The project was awarded £610,000 from the Scottish government via Sosep in July.

Rural Affairs Secretary, Fergus Ewing said: “The south of Scotland is renowned for the quality of its textiles industries and it is important that we invest in that excellence for the future.”

“The centre will bring real and long-term benefits to the area, developing the talent needed to support the industry’s future success and enabling people to pursue long-term careers in this important sector.”

Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for business and economic development, Mark Rowley, said it could address issues in the local textile and knitwear sector and help to provide skilled young workers.

“This project will also build on the confidence in the sector, which will hopefully lead to continued investment by those companies already established here and inward investment from others who see the benefits of such collaboration,” he said.