The Rushden Echo, 24th March 1967, transcribed by Jim Hollis
College in danger of closing
Rushden’s Boot and Shoe Technical College, a specialised unit created to serve the needs of the major industry in Rushden and Higham Ferrers, is in danger of closing through lack of support.
What makes this lack of support even more incredible is that the footwear industry as a whole, training officers and trade unionists, all basically agree that correct training today is more important than at any other time in the history of the industry.
Mr. M. P. O’Conner, president of Rushden and District Shoe Manufacturers’ Association, and Mr. A. Kevan, secretary of the National Joint Recruitment and Training Council for the footwear industry, said it was essential that the college should remain open and that it would be a serious blow to the industry if it closed.
But are the manufacturers completely to blame?
There is no doubt that some do not support the industry’s training scheme, but there are also many young employees who take a short term view and refuse to attend training sessions.
A Northamptonshire County Council spokesman said numbers has been dropping at Rushden College. The college had recently been inspected by the Department of Education and no doubt the education committee would be taking notice of the decline in attendance when considering the department’s report.
At this stage the “Echo” would like to make it clear that nobody has said the college will close; however several people are concerned about the possibility.
The report commenting on Rushden Manufacturers’ Association on Monday urged members to encourage their young employees to attend courses.
It pointed out that there was a block release course available – students attend two periods of five weeks full training instead of part-time day-release.
The report, commenting of lack of support, said if it did not improve a new system would have to be arranged.
“Failing this the county council will be obliged to consider the closing of the colleges – an event which could prove disastrous to training generally,” the report adds.
However, the whole position could reverse itself by the end of the year – that is unless shoe manufacturers are prepared to pay out good money for no return.
Mr. Kevan said at the end of the year it was hoped that a training board for the industry would be established under the Industrial Training Act.
Levy
This would mean that all manufacturers, whether they sent employees on training schemes or not, would have to pay a levy to the board. The levy is based on the total payroll of the firm, including directors, and is likely to work out at one and a half per cent.
Manufacturers will be able to recover this outlay in the form of Government grants, depending on the quality and extent of their training.
Mr. Kevan said he could not see the present training pattern established in the industry – which is voluntary – being changed much. But if the Rushden college was lost it could prove very difficult to replace.
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