Talks are underway for a leather craft business incubator hub to open in Northampton, the historic British home of the leather and the footwear industry.
The award-winning social enterprise Cockpit Arts, currently based in Holborn and Deptford, are looking into expanding their creative business hub outside London; due to makers struggling with high rents and limited space. A new leather hub was opened in Deptford in October 2017 and it is envisaged that a similar model can be implemented in Northampton at the National Leather Collection, where space is plentiful with further expansion planned for the future.
This joint approach between UK Leather, the National Leather Collection, the Institute for Creative Leather Technology, The Leathersellers Company and the Leather Conservation Centre is indicative of the collaboration that will be required to connect, promote and support the British leather industry of the future.
Please stand by for news on further developments, and if you are a leather artisan or know anyone with a creative business looking for space in which to build their business - please get in touch!
