Stanningley-based heritage textile mill and manufacturer has been recognised in the Make UK Awards for its efforts to developing future talent.
AW Hainsworth has won the Developing Future Talent Award and was runner-up in both the Health, Safety and Wellbeing and SME of the Year Awards.
The annual awards are organised by Make UK, a manufacturers’ organisation that champions and celebrates British manufacturing, supporting the future growth and development of the industry. The North East, Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Awards Dinner for 2024 was held in Durham and attended by team members from AW Hainsworth.
AW Hainsworth will now go forward to the National Awards judging for the Developing Future Talent award, which will take place on 30 January 2025.
The mill hires textile graduates from British universities to help bridge the skills gap in the UK textile industry. The company engages regularly with the next generation, participating in apprenticeship fairs and partnering with universities and local colleges to nurture emerging talent, while providing valuable insights into textile development and production.
Internally, AW Hainsworth’s digital committee fosters engagement across all age groups within the workforce, while its school outreach programs inspire young people to explore careers in textiles. Additionally, the business has prioritised upskilling, with over a third of employees actively participating in personal development plans.
Amanda McLaren, Managing Director of AW Hainsworth, said: “Educating and inspiring younger generations to consider a career in textiles is of the utmost importance so we can ensure that the UK textile industry continues to thrive.
“We regularly collaborate with other organisations and businesses to help educate, support and inspire future textile talent, and we have a vast focus internally on supporting and nurturing our existing workforce to ensure our team members flourish both in the workplace and out.”
The family-run mill invests significantly in fabric development innovation and opened its UKAS-accredited testing laboratory in 2022. It’s focused on placing people at the heart of the business and has been running a wellness programme for two years, which seeks to put people first, shift the culture around mental health, and offer extra support to employees.