CAREERS

The head of innovation works with the senior management teams to identify improvements that could be made to existing products. They also work to develop new, innovative products which will satisfy unfulfilled customer needs.  

  

The head of innovation may be involved in the following tasks:

 

·      investigating problems with current products and areas of desirable product development

·      liaising with suppliers and senior management

·      researching and developing new technologies

·      writing technical reports

 

The head of innovation may earn around £50,000 a year when they start out. This would increase to between £60,000 and £75,000 a year when they are more established.

 

 

The normal working hours would be around 37 hours a week, this could be more if the business requires.

 

Most activities take place in an office environment or in a laboratory. The head of innovation may also be required to visit sites, such as production facilities.

 

 

It would be useful for someone considering a career as the head of innovation to have some of the following skills and interests:

 

·      a strong appreciation for market trends and customer purchase drivers

·      a science or marketing background with project management, IT and mathematical skills

·      excellent organisational, communication and team building skills

 

 

People usually gain entry into this career from a variety of areas, such as:

 

·      Garment Technology

·      Textiles technology

·      Polymer technology

·      Chemical and physical sciences

·      Chemical engineering

·      Materials sciences

·      Mechanical and production engineering

·      Process engineering

 

Employers generally prefer graduates and those with higher degrees, although candidates with substantial relevant experience in a related industry or alternative relevant qualifications will be considered.

 

For those looking at the textiles route at undergraduate level, the number of opportunities is quite small. The following degree courses are among those available in textiles technology:

 

·      University of Manchester – BSc (Hons) Textile Technology (Business Management) and BSc (Hons) Textile Science and Technology

·      University of Bolton – BSc (Hons) Textile Technology.

 

Postgraduate education in textiles technology is seen to be a big plus by employers, particularly for graduates of non-textiles disciplines. There are a number of taught courses available, including:

 

·      University of Manchester –MSc Textile Technology

·      University of Leeds – M.Sc. in Advanced Textile and Performance Clothing

·      University of Bolton – MSc in Textile Engineering

 

Other higher education institutes, such as Heriot Watt University, are involved in postgraduate research in textiles.

 

Entry as a technician may be possible, but a degree or professional qualification is needed for career progression. Foundation Degrees offer an opportunity for those looking to enter this kind of role through work-based progression. The University of Bolton offers a distance learning Foundation Degree in Textiles.

 

 

There may be the opportunity to pursue a particular research agenda in collaboration with those universities that have a textiles specialism. 

 

The Textile Institute is the main professional body for the industry and is able to grant a range of qualifications. There are also local societies, which perform similar functions, including the Bradford Textile Society and Huddersfield Textile Society.

 

 

The research and development function is integral to the operation of technical textiles companies. Expertise in this area is transferable across the manufacturing sector and major employers are found in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, electronics and food industries.

 

  

Qualification information (external sources)

 

Other

“From an early age I wanted to work in the fashion industry but not specifically as a designer. Journalism interested me but I felt I needed to work within the industry to give me the authority to write about it. Studying clothing at Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University) gave me a good overview of the clothing industry from a business management perspective.”

 

By completing work experience placements, Miranda was able to establish contacts within the industry. This lead to her getting her first job of trainee buyer for high street retailer, Next.

 

“This job was a fantastic opportunity for me to use the skills I had learnt on my course. Not only did I understand how garments were produced and marketed, but I was also familiar with clothing manufacturing organisation and management. I soon become a junior buyer, and then a buyer for various categories of apparel, including casual wear and lingerie.” 

 

 

After 5 years, Miranda decided that she wanted to set up her own business. She launched a fashion-design label, which focused on the design, manufacture and wholesale of womenswear. 

 

“Launching my own company gave me a great opportunity to use all my skills, as I was responsible for everything from design concept to manufacturing and marketing.”

 

After 7 years of successful trading, Miranda decided to close the business and find a job within production management. She was put in charge of a new knitting technology process at Courtaulds. This role developed over a period of 5 years, enabling Miranda to set up a Research and Development (R&D) team.

 

“Half of my R&D team were based in the USA and half here in the UK, so I travelled between the two for approaching 3 years. At this point several of the businesses separated and I secured a R&D role within Courtaulds.”

 

 

“As the head of the R&D department, I work closely with senior business leaders and creative designers, with creative thinkers both within and outside of the business and 3^rd party technology experts. We work together to identify market trends and consumer needs and identify what we believe we can bring to market that will create sustainable competitive advantage for our business.”

 

Miranda has to juggle the practical aspects of her job with report writing and management meetings. She finds her work varied and interesting.

  

“The clothing design cycle is seasonal and represents a repetitive cycle of trend and colour. In contrast, research and development is continuous and never repetitive. I really enjoy being part of a team that is looking to develop the next “must have” product. However, we have our disappointments such as when something you think will work doesn’t deliver against the original set objectives, but equally we enjoy the surprises when we come up with something new and valid that we did not expect at the outset.”

 

 

Miranda advises those wishing to pursue a career in this area to have a good eye for customer needs.

 

“The world of textiles and clothing is changing: we have already stepped beyond the common needs of warmth, modesty and even fashionability – what more can we bring to clothing in terms of protection, security and wellbeing?”

 

It is also important for a person considering a career in this area to be willing to learn new things and experiment with new ideas.

 

“You need to be flexible and willing to learn – an open and enquiring mind is the 1^st pre-requisite to success.”