John Spencer Textiles invests £400,000

Family-run weaving company John Spencer Textiles has committed to invest £400,000 in new technology and equipment with the support of a £55,000 grant from the N Brown Textiles Growth Programme.

The investment sees the company commit to the future of UK manufacturing, creating eight new jobs and a new apprenticeship for the regional economy.

To date, it has supported 27 textile companies in Lancashire, resulting in the creation and safeguarding of 443 jobs in Lancashire. With over £1.7m of government funding since 2014, textile companies in Lancashire have invested almost £7m.

Lorna Fitzsimons, director, N Brown Textiles Growth Programme said: “Although early days after the BREXIT vote, the Textile industry is still showing the confidence to invest which is a healthy indicator that the sector is still growing. This is helped, in part, by government funding, and a strategy to invest in this industry which is so important to Lancashire.”

"It is a real thrill to see new jobs being created and very exciting to see enthusiastic apprentices learning traditional skills and applying them to the amazing new technology that we now have. While we cannot compete for volume business with low wage economies elsewhere in the world, we can offer design, flexibility and service which we believe will keep our once great industry alive and kicking!"