Pictured (L-R) from Crockett and Jones: Jess Mitchell (training manager), Gail Little (HR Assistant), Chay Cooper (Factory Manager)
NTFC Community Trust are delighted to launch a partnership with Crockett & Jones, our local shoe manufacturers.
The Northampton-based company will be supporting a five-week employability programme, enhancing an offer of employment to students in Year 11. The partnership will enable young people to enter into the shoe industry at the end of their studies.
Three schools – The Duston School, Malcolm Arnold Academy, Abbeyfield School and Northampton International Academy, have all signed up for the programme.
Chay Cooper, Factory Manager at Crockett & Jones, said,
"We’re incredibly proud to be working with the NTFC Community Trust to share Northampton’s world-renowned shoemaking heritage with the next generation.
For more than 145 years, craftsmanship, quality and highly skilled people have been at the heart of Crockett & Jones. Through this programme, young people will have the opportunity to discover the skills and care that go into making some of the finest shoes in the world.
Together, we hope to inspire the next generation to take an interest in shoemaking, learn traditional skills, and discover the rewarding careers our industry has to offer. We want young people to see that even in a world increasingly shaped by technology, these traditional skills still have a very real future.
The footwear handmade here in Perry Street, Northampton is appreciated by Crockett & Jones customers across the world."
Lorna Stockwell, Schools Manager at Northampton Town Football Club Community Trust, said:
"We are incredibly proud of the positive impact this employment programme is having in partnership with Crockett & Jones. As one of Northamptonshire's most historic and respected businesses, Crockett & Jones represents a world-class craftsmanship tradition that has been at the heart of our county for generations.
This programme is not only helping to support and grow the future workforce of the British shoemaking industry, but it is also opening doors for young people who may never have considered a career in this field.
Through hands-on experience, mentoring and industry insight, participants are discovering valuable skills, developing confidence, and gaining access to sustainable career opportunities. For many, this programme provides a pathway into a skilled trade and the prospect of a lifelong career that they may not have thought possible.
We are delighted to work alongside Crockett & Jones to inspire the next generation, preserve an important local heritage and create meaningful employment opportunities for young people across Northamptonshire."