Barbour, the South Shields based heritage and lifestyle clothing brand that has been operating in the North East since 1894, today continued its legacy of supporting employment and manufacturing in the region by opening its doors to the first Barbour Academy. Set up in partnership with Hartlepool College of Further Education and the Sora Group, the Barbour Academy aims to revive interest in careers in the industry by delivering apprenticeships, employability skills and bespoke training for those currently employed or wishing to seek employment in the textile industry.

The Barbour Academy will offer students specially-tailored study programmes, including oral, written, communication, technical, practical and management skills, alongside the chance to learn traditional textile skills such as pattern cutting, sampling and tailoring. Situated on the first floor of Barbour's South Shields manufacturing unit, where the brand's most famous product the classic wax jacket is still produced, the Barbour Academy will offer study facilities including two ICT rooms, a teaching room and a practical machine area. Students will be taught by staff from Hartlepool College, Barbour and the Sora Group dependent of their programme of study.

All students enrolled on the Barbour Academy will be offered a guaranteed interview with Barbour at the end of their studies, as well as the opportunity to be introduced to key business contacts within the region for employment opportunities in other manufacturing sectors. Students will also be given the opportunity to move onto the next level of their NVQ or apprenticeships should they wish to continue their studies further.

Dame Margaret Barbour, Chairman, J Barbour and Sons Ltd, commented, 'At Barbour, we're committed to delivering quality, which is one of the reasons why we continue to make our core product, the wax jacket, at our factory here in South Shields. With the decline of manufacturing in the North East, we have struggled in the past to attract staff to positions at the factory.

'We hope that the Barbour Academy will help to revive and sustain these skills in the region and offer employment opportunities to people in the North East who may not previously have considered a career in manufacturing.'

Andrew Steel, Assistant Principal of Hartlepool College of Further Education, commented, "We're delighted to be working with Barbour to deliver this Academy. Barbour has a great reputation for quality and we believe the Barbour Academy has great potential to engage with people in the local area, offering new employment opportunities and reinvigorating the textiles sector in the region."