The main aim of this project is to increase the supply of qualified design staff for the European Fashion Industry through developing a new qualification recognised across the EU which meets the needs of employers for the workforce competencies they require, and to promote greater labour mobility. It has been developed in response to the growing importance of fashion/design skills within the European clothing and textiles sector where high added value ‘niche’ products with a high design content are needed by small to medium sized enterprises to enable them to retain their competitiveness in a context in which low value/low skilled work is being outsourced to low wage economies.The main objectives are to;- Bring together a transnational partnership of employers, sector bodies and training providers, forming a steering group and agreeing how the partnership will work and will be co-ordinated and managed including the monitoring and evaluation criteria- Liaise with employers/employer organisations at national level and through Euratex (the European employers organisation for the clothing and textile sector) to agree the competences which require to be demonstrated in the qualification- Identify the most effective ways these competences can be developed through a training programme organised on a modular basis and designing a programme including work based, tutorial and e-learning modes- Select and analyse content and create tutor guides to support the new qualification and review these with employers/final beneficiaries- Secure recognition from accreditation bodies within the ECVET framework and identify the validation process to accredit training providers to offer the qualification- Promote awareness of the new qualification to employers, training providers and guidance organisations and support preparation to offer the qualification in at least three member statesThe target groups are (a) employers across Europe within the Fashion Industry (b) people wanting to work in the sector and people working in the sector who want to gain new skills(c) training providers working with the sectorThe partners from the UK and Netherlands have worked together on a successful EQUAL Round 2 project Cutting IT, and will incorporate training materials developed in EQUAL to support delivery of the qualification.