The Scottish Textile & Leather Association (STLA) is pleased to announce that after extensive lobbying and discussion a new £750,000 investment has been secured from the Scottish Funding Council to help shape a bright future for the Scottish textiles industry.

The announcement was made on Thursday 3rd April by John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth.

Part of the funding will create the ‘Textiles Futures Forum’, a melting pot for collaboration between the Scottish textile industry and universities designed to fast-track innovation and new product development.

The remaining investment will help to seed-fund projects with the potential to stimulate new developments within the industry. Grants of up to £50,000 will be awarded to successful projects which may involve individual businesses or cross-industry collaborations.

This initiative will be led by the STLA with academic input being led by Heriot Watt University.  This is a truly exciting development which has the potential to facilitate real change in the industry.