UKFT is urging changes to Treasury spending rules and public procurement practices, arguing that current policies place excessive emphasis on the lowest upfront cost.
The proposed reforms aim to help UK textile and garment manufacturers secure more government contracts, particularly in defence, while strengthening supply-chain resilience, innovation, skilled jobs, tax revenues and long-term economic value.
It said UK manufacturers are frequently excluded from government contracts even when they offer high-quality, internationally competitive products.
UKFT said in a statement that its paper highlights how UK companies supply technical and defence textiles to many of the United Kingdom’s NATO partners, but often struggle to win comparable contracts at home. Its recommendations include reforms to Treasury value-for-money guidance, greater recognition of strategic manufacturing sectors, more transparency in public procurement, stronger engagement between government and industry, and increased consideration of UK manufacturing capability in contract awards.
Although the immediate focus is on defence textiles, UKFT said it is using the work to support wider engagement with government and industry partners, including the CBI, on a more supportive environment for UK manufacturing. It said many of the barriers identified are shared across fashion, textiles and other manufacturing industries, and addressing them would help strengthen UK supply chains, encourage investment, support innovation and create skilled jobs.
Adam Mansell, chief executive officer, UKFT said, “UKFT continues to believe that UK manufactured textiles and garments have an important future. Our campaign to change the rules on public procurement is an important step towards creating better awareness in Government of the many benefits of buying British, alongside our other campaigns to reduce the cost of energy in UK manufacturing and supporting education and training. These are issues we have been campaigning for and we intend to make the new Prime Minister aware of the need for urgent change and the benefits of a stronger UK fashion and textile industry.”
UKFT said it will continue working with ministers, Parliament and industry partners as it seeks procurement policy that better supports British manufacturing and delivers longer-term value for taxpayers, industry and the wider economy.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk
