Apprentices Fashion a Sustainable Future: New College Lanarkshire is catwalking towards a brighter financial future by working with sustainable fashion company ACS Clothing to deliver an innovative new training programme called "Pathways to Textile Care and Warehousing" that builds on Scotland’s efforts to create a circular economy.

Despite the widely reported social and environmental impact of the fashion industry, many garments are bought and worn just once, often for special occasions. In true linear fashion, these garments then either get discarded or are left unworn in wardrobes. Scotland has an ambitious plan for net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045, which extends beyond other targets covering merely balancing emissions. It works to ensure circularity is part of this ambitious goal. There are limited vocational/pathway fashion and clothing courses focused on supply and warehousing, and very few offer opportunities, specifically for those with additional support needs.

The "Pathways to Textile Care and Warehousing" course has been developed in partnership with ACS (Advanced clothing Services) and both South and North Lanarkshire Councils. The students will undertake a live work placement at ACS which has been working to offer a scalable rental and renewal market for men's formal wear since 1997. Their aim is to move the linear model of fashion toward a circular model. Students will also attend college 2 days per week to learn more about the industry as a whole and gain qualifications. The course focuses on developing skills for employment in sustainable fashion and/or warehousing and logistics. Students are supported by a job coach from the South and North Lanarkshire Council's Supported Employment Team while on work placement.

Students will gain real-world and hands-on experience in working within the sector while being supported by job coaches from local councils. The students will also gain health and safety and first aid qualifications which will help them access future employment within the sector. Students can then progress their careers in warehousing, logistics, or sustainable fashion. The students with additional needs will receive specialised support from professionals.

Students need to have an SCQF level 4 qualification to gain entry to the course.

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