A KEIGHLEY textile boss was among the speakers at a major event aimed at getting more young designers to pursue careers in the industry.

Gary Eastwood, managing director of woollen and worsted mill Pennine Weavers, addressed young people at the second annual Making it in Textiles gathering.

Final-year students from around 20 UK universities and art schools, including the University of Leeds and University of Huddersfield, attended the two-day event at the Midland Hotel in Bradford.

It featured interactive presentations, panel discussions and visits to local mills.

Students and their tutors met leading industry figures and learned more about opportunities in yarn and cloth design and production.

The event was attended by 130 students and tutors and funded by the Campaign for Wool and three City livery companies — The Clothworkers’ Company, The Drapers’ Company and The Weavers’ Company.

Mr Eastwood – whose company's fabrics are used by top fashion brands such as Burberry, Prada and Armani – said: "There's a strong area of opportunity in textile production.

"We have a skilled workforce of 78 and we make continual investment in technology, systems and people. It's not a nine to five job — it's hard but well rewarded.

"Whilst being immensely proud of having one of the most highly invested weaving plants in Europe, we recognise the real success of the business is down to the unique skills and commitment of every one of our employees.

"Our policy of continued training and our drive for continued improvement ensure we are preparing the next generation of skilled operatives to help maintain our position as a world leader in our field."

The UK textiles industry is currently enjoying booming demand and growing international sales.

According to the Campaign for Wool, which was launched by its patron Prince Charles in Bradford in November 2010 to boost use of the natural fibre, turnover within the UK wool trade has risen by more than two-thirds to around £270 million.

Demand is particularly strong across fashion, with figures showing that the UK wool clothing market has risen across the board, including menswear, womenswear, knitwear, active wear and workwear, to a value of £1.2 billion.

It says 8,000 weavers are employed at 40 British mills, 25 per cent higher than a year ago.

The campaign adds that 90 per cent of sales from British fashion brands and half of sales from interiors brands are exports and the ‘made in the UK’ label continues to be a deciding factor in global purchasing decisions.

The biggest export markets for the British wool industry, including weavers, spinners, carpet manufacturers and fashion brands, are Japan, the United States and Germany, with China quickly catching up.

The UK also has a large market in the export of contract upholstery for the transport sector, with wool the chosen material for many new planes, trains and cars due to its strong safety record. The British market for wool in interiors and apparel is currently worth £3 billion.

James Sugden, of The Weavers' Company, who organised the Making it in Textiles event, said: "There is a vibrant industry out there with 100,000 people working in textiles in the UK. We’re opening a dialogue between industry and students, we’re trying to create pathways into the industry for graduates of textiles, both design students and technical students."