A trend-setting Lanarkshire firm has been selected as a finalist at the 2025 Scottish Apprenticeship Awards.
ACS, Europe’s largest sustainable fashion hub, enables brands and retailers to adopt a circular economy, helping keep clothes out of landfill and in wardrobes longer.
Its 200,000 square-foot Monklands HQ at Eurocentral processes six million clothing items annually for returns, rental and resale through its cleaning and repair service, working with brands including H&M, The North Face, Patagonia and Nobody’s Child.
Chief sustainability officer at ACS, Michael Cusack, believes apprenticeships are vital for building a workforce aligned with its environmental and ethical ethos.
Michael told Lanarkshire Live: “Apprenticeships are a strategic way to grow our people organically to meet our goals of becoming a leader in sustainable fashion while creating job opportunities that uplift communities and support social inclusion.
“We aim to nurture a generation of skilled and environmentally conscious professionals.
“For us, sustainability includes people development, society, and biodiversity – it isn’t just about emissions, it’s how we can work for the greater good.”
Founded in 1997, ACS became an apprentice employer in 2019 to cultivate specialists with the skills needed for industry change.
Apprentices have enhanced efficiency in garment repair, logistics and sustainable practices.
They receive comprehensive training to reduce carbon emissions and waste to support net zero goals, focusing on eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient methods.
Since 2019, ACS has employed 77 apprentices. Currently, it has 13 Foundation Apprentices, 42 Modern Apprentices and one Graduate Apprentice, with several having advanced to director and managerial positions.
The 130-strong company has a major social impact focus, employing a diverse workforce from under-represented groups, from individuals with disabilities to those in long-term care.
A holistic approach includes personalised plans, mentoring, mental health resources and financial literacy.
Michael said: “Inclusion is so impactful, it can make your organisation more productive, creative, and innovative.”
Over 12,000 employers support Scottish Apprenticeships, which are work-based learning opportunities or jobs with industry-recognised qualifications.
Scottish Apprenticeships are made for business, developed with employers to ensure they are demand-led and responsive to workforce skills needs.
Michael added: “As ACS develops as a business, apprentices do too, creating a long-term talent pipeline.
“Recruitment costs reduce and apprenticeships foster loyalty by cultivating people from within.
“We believe in looking after staff’s career ambitions and personal growth, with many who have been with us for years now holding qualifications through apprenticeships that recognise their expertise.”
Awards already scooped by ACS include the King’s Award for Excellence in Sustainable Development 2024, a Drapers Sustainable Fashion Award in 2023 and Supporting Net Zero Apprentice Employer of the Year at the 2022 Scottish Apprenticeship Awards.
And now ACS has been nominated in the SME Employer of the Year category at the this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Awards.
Michael added: “It’s superb to be a finalist amongst organisations that invest in their people through apprenticeships.
“We perform well in our work with people, impact and the planet – especially in the face of fast fashion – but we’re still evolving.
“As we grow, we have more potential to make a positive impact on society.”
The winner of the SME Employer of the Year category will be revealed at the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards, which takes place on February 27 in the run-up to Scottish Apprenticeship Week (March 3-7).
Find out more about the award finalists and the event by visiting here.
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