This hotly anticipated event could lead to £15 million in exports for British designers, the fashion industry is worth £28 billion to the UK economy.

The government is helping match UK fashion designers with international buyers to boost exports by up to £15 million, International Trade Minister, Mark Garnier said today, ahead of London Fashion Week.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is not only sponsoring this year’s event, but also investing into the ‘International Guest Programme’, where up and coming British designers are connected to some of the world’s most high profile and influential buyers from priority markets such as Australia, China and South Korea.

This trade-matching scheme is designed to raise awareness of UK brands to a global audience and enable designers to compete for sales to international markets and secure export wins.

International Trade Minister, Mark Garnier said:

From street style to haute couture, some of the most iconic brands and trendsetters in contemporary fashion hail from the UK – so it’s no surprise there is high demand for British heritage and luxury fashion.

The UK sits at the centre of the world’s fashion design talent and we are proud to be sponsoring such a prestigious event, showcasing the very best of British fashion designers.

Through this trade-matching programme we are giving UK designers a tailored fit with their counterparts abroad, with the scope to boost trade by millions of pounds.

Minister of State for Digital and Culture Matt Hancock said:

The UK’s creative industries are a tour de force, contributing £87 billion a year to our economy. British designers are now represented on catwalks all around the world, and our industry’s alumni reads like a roll call of the fashion world’s most talented stars, including Alexander McQueen, Thomas Burberry and Alice Temperley.

London Fashion Week is a tremendous celebration of the best of British fashion, and a reminder of the incredible pool of talent that we are committed to nurturing and supporting.

The UK has a worldwide reputation for its fashion design, and London has long established itself as a forward-leaning fashion capital, attracting investment from across the world. From Burberry to Victoria Beckham, big British brands are in high demand on and off the catwalk, making the fashion industry one of the UK’s biggest export successes.

In 2015, clothing exports alone racked up £6.1 billion – and if footwear and textiles were included, would reach almost £10 billion.

The fashion industry is worth £28 billion to the UK economy and the world renowned London Fashion Week brings a major boost to the sector, attracting an estimated £100 million worth of orders during each fashion week and offering the best in design talent from across the world.

The trends and innovations on the catwalk will cascade onto British and international high streets, creating a multi-billion pound industry and a further boost to UK fashion exports.

Notes to editors

• priority markets for the ‘International Guest Programme’ include: the USA, China, South Korea, Australia, India, Saudi Arabia, Italy and Germany

• ‘International Guest Programme’ involves targeting international buyers and understanding their budgets and styles and matching them with appropriate British designers

• now in its 65th year, London Fashion Week will open its doors to more than 5,000 well-heeled guests keen to get a preview of the latest catwalk collections and designs

• the UK sits at the centre of the world’s fashion design talent with internationally-acclaimed designers and brands such as Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, Burberry and Victoria Beckham all hailing from the UK

• the UK is a leading centre for the manufacturing of clothing and high-quality fabrics. Over half the designers showing at London Fashion Week make some of their collections in the UK

Further information

Amjid Ali Maqbool Hussain, the director of Madina Kebab House Limited in Peterborough, has been disqualified for six years for failing to comply with its statutory obligations under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act of 2006.

The disqualification, from 21 February 2017, prevents Mr Hussain from directly or indirectly becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company until February 2023.

Mr Hussain’s disqualification follows an investigation by the Insolvency Service which found he had failed to ensure relevant immigration checks were completed and documents retained, resulting in the employment of four illegal workers and which resulted in a penalty notice of £60,000 being issued by the Home Office.

Madina Kebab House Limited was placed into Liquidation on 18 December 2015, with an estimated deficiency to creditors in excess of £66,000.

Robert Clarke, Senior Investigator, said:

The Insolvency Service rigorously pursues directors who fail to pay fines imposed by the government for breaking employment and immigration laws. We have worked closely in this case with our colleagues at the Home Office to achieve this disqualification.

The director sought an unfair advantage over his competitors by employing individuals who did not have the right to work in the UK in breach of his duties as a director.

The public has a right to expect that those who break the law will face the consequences. Running a limited company, means you have statutory obligations as well as protections. If you fail to comply with your obligations then the Insolvency Service will investigate you.

A Home Office spokesperson said:

Illegal working is not victimless. It undercuts honest employers, cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities and defrauds the taxpayer.

Businesses should be aware that they have a duty to check that their staff have permission to work in the UK.

We are happy to work with employers who play by the rules but those who do not should know that they will not go under our radar.

Mr Hussain’s date of birth is 13 June 1978 and he resides in Peterborough.

Madina Kebab House Limited (CRO No. 08110208) was incorporated on 19 June 2012 and latterly traded as a takeaway from 65 Galdstone Street, Peterborough, PE1 2BN.

Mr Hussain was a director from 19 June 2012 to Liquidation. The Company went into Creditors Voluntary Liquidation on 18 December 2015 with an estimated deficiency of £66,244.

A disqualification order has the effect that without specific permission of a court, a person with a disqualification cannot:

• act as a director of a company
• take part, directly or indirectly, in the promotion, formation or management of a company or limited liability partnership
• be a receiver of a company’s property

Disqualification undertakings are the administrative equivalent of a disqualification order but do not involve court proceedings.

Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of other restrictions.

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