Since 2018, only 130 individuals have enrolled in the Level 2 Sewing Machinist Apprenticeship in the UK. This falls short of the expected 450 apprentices in the first year and 400 annually after. The European secondhand goods sector is expected to grow to £86bn over the next decade. Major brands like John Lewis and H&M are tapping into the trend. However, a shortage of skilled sewing machinists is hindering the industry’s growth. To address this, the UK Fashion and Textile Association has secured increased funding for apprenticeships and launched an online course to train new talent.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: UK faces sewing machinist shortage amid secondhand market boom