Harris Tweed Investment Fund
Having had some serious doubts about the operation of the Harris Tweed Investment Fund, I am delighted to have been proved wrong.
It was a very smart piece of thinking by the Council to provide the facility, which meets the needs of both the company and the self-employed weavers by guaranteeing a steady flow of work throughout the traditional quiet period.
Hopefully the industry will grow stronger and the Fund will no longer be necessary, but at the moment that doesn't seem likely. I am awaiting the lodging of the accounts to 31 December 2008 for Harris Tweed Hebrides LLP to try to assess the state of the industry, but they are now overdue, which is never a good sign.
The only other mill, of Harris Tweed Textiles reported a loss of around £140,000 last year and is only avoiding insolvency via a loan of £565,000 from it's owner.
It appears the industry needs owners with deep pockets for at least a few years yet.
It was a very smart piece of thinking by the Council to provide the facility, which meets the needs of both the company and the self-employed weavers by guaranteeing a steady flow of work throughout the traditional quiet period.
Hopefully the industry will grow stronger and the Fund will no longer be necessary, but at the moment that doesn't seem likely. I am awaiting the lodging of the accounts to 31 December 2008 for Harris Tweed Hebrides LLP to try to assess the state of the industry, but they are now overdue, which is never a good sign.
The only other mill, of Harris Tweed Textiles reported a loss of around £140,000 last year and is only avoiding insolvency via a loan of £565,000 from it's owner.
It appears the industry needs owners with deep pockets for at least a few years yet.
5 comments:
Racist councillor?
http://www.hebridesnews.co.uk/eishken_windfarm_backing.html
Cllr Annie Macdonald said only 18 people attended a workshop on the issue with many in opposition to any development at all she said.
But some “born and bred” in the district saw its economic worth she indicated.
I have just read your blog about HTDF regarding weavers being kept in work, i would like to inform you that it is only a handful of weavers who are recieving regular tweeds from HTH, the remainder of weavers are only getting a tweed issue every 4 - 8 weeks with a few weavers i know personally, 1 has had no issues since february this year and another for just over 1 year. When trying to contact the manager at the shawbost mill regarding this matter, no reply or answer has been recieced as yet, this is after 2 letters being sent to management the last one being sent by recorded delivery. I would welcome your views on this topic as it is extremely frustrating to see my neighbours getting regular tweed issues when some of us are getting none.
Angus you are right. My neighbour who's got a young family is very concerned about his future. they simply arent getting the orders and their management are showing no desire chasing them. his only hope is that Shawbost continues to expand and continues recruiting. Carloway staff were amazed to hear that their Shawbost compatriots got a pay rise and a bonus before the summer holidays - while their bosses were talking about reducing hours and a shaky future. All very sad and entirely avoidable if they did the simple things right........
3:56
Gaelic mafia, your face doesn't fit, you go to church, you don't go to church, your children don't play with their children, your partner doesn't go to the same coffee mornings, think of a reason and that will be why in this particular circle you are an outcast.
It's the same all over the Western Isles so I suggest that you find another vocation and make sure this time that you have friends in high places who will support you...
Anon: 3.56
Can assure you that I get regular tweeds, as do my neighbours. The bottom line is that without the shawbost mill not an inch of tweed would have been woven this year. Can I suggest to the “weaver” complaining that maybe a change of career may be worth consideration - thought of working in spinning?
Shawbost has issued thousands of tweeds – and I understand will still be issuing through the winter. I can assure you that’s a welcome change of circumstances. As for Brian Haggus – he’s a disaster and if he’d control of the industry I’d be living on the mainland now.
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