Textiles Teashops are to spring up around Greater Manchester throughout the summer in a new drive to attract textile workers back into the industry.

The campaign, launched by Coronation Street stars Jennie McAlpine and Sair Khan, aims to promote the sectors careers opportunities, with immediate vacancies for sewing machinists, weavers, cutters, textiles operatives and samples machinists as well as supervisory, management and professional positions.

The industry is offering retraining for those re-entering the sector and a range of fashion and textiles apprenticeships are available for those interested in joining the sector.

The textiles industry in the region currently employs 11,300 people, generating £650 million for the local economy.

This is set to rise and textiles employers estimate the creation of 400 new jobs each year over the next decade including 150 sewing machinist vacancies per year.

James Eden, managing director of the luxury British label Private White VC, said: “We are expected to be able to respond quickly to the latest trends, and this is creating a second industrial revolution in Manchester.”

Lorna Fitzsimons, Director of the Alliance Project said: “We know that people who worked in the industry in the 80s and 90s have the skills we desperately need in order to compete with the global market.”

The ‘Textiles Teashop’ campaign is supported by Coronation Street actresses Jennie McAlpine and Sair Khan, whose characters work in the soap’s Underworld underwear factory.

Jennie, who is also a local businesswoman and owns Annies teashop in Manchester City Centre said, “As a local businesswoman, I’m the first to support local jobs and local industry.”

To find out more about the Textiles Teashop roadshows simply visit: textilesteashops.co.uk