In the most recently published New Year’s Honours List, among those to receive recognition was Christopher Nieper, the boss of Derbyshire fashion manufacturer David Nieper Ltd. He spoke to Business Live’s Robin Johnson about why his OBE is more than just a personal achievement.
If there is one British industry that has had its fair share of ups and downs over the years it is textiles.
At one time, particularly in the East Midlands, it was one of our major manufacturing strengths.
However, cheap imports and the transfer of production overseas hit the industry hard and today, in comparison, it is a mere shadow of its former self.
Despite this, there were companies who stuck with Britain, dug in and ultimately weathered the storm.
One company that has done this with aplomb is David Nieper Ltd. This Alfreton company was founded in 1961 and is still going strong today.
At the helm is the founder’s son, Christopher Nieper, who joined the family business in the 1980s - a time when the majority of Ƶ fashion designers were taking their manufacturing overseas.
However, Christopher took the decision to keep manufacturing in Alfreton, to build economic prosperity in his home town and secure jobs for its people.
It was a decision that ultimately paid off. Today, David Nieper, which designs, manufactures and sells premium clothing for women over the age of 50, is one of Alfreton’s largest employers with more than 300 staff.
Christopher’s vision to drive a manufacturing renaissance in Britain and create a centre of fashion manufacturing excellence in the heart of Derbyshire, has recently been rewarded.
In the 2020 New Year’s Honours List, he was made an OBE for services to Ƶ manufacturing and apprenticeship development.
“It was certainly a tremendous start to the New Year,” said Christopher. “I was totally overwhelmed to be included in the list and humbled to be recognised among so many inspirational and well-deserving individuals.”
But while personal recognition is welcome, Christopher believes the honour it is just as much a feather in the cap for his staff and Alfreton itself.
A former coal-mining town, Alfreton suffered real hardship, including social issues and unemployment, following the closure of the mines - and from early in his career Christopher was determined to help rebuild prosperity in his hometown.
Christopher said: “The honour is a boost to British manufacturing and fantastic recognition for the town of Alfreton.
“I’m incredibly proud of this community and the hardworking, skilled people that I have the privilege of working with everyday.”
Christopher said he made it his personal mission not to turn his back on his local community, but instead support, develop and enrich community life by creating local jobs and developing skills and education.
An example of this came in 2015 when he set up the David Nieper Sewing Academy to address the chronic skills shortage in the Ƶ’s fashion and textiles industry.
A year later, the Derbyshire fashion house became a national trailblazer for the Government’s apprenticeship drive.
The company pioneered a system, which replaced the previous framework to develop new standards for fashion and textiles.
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This year, David Nieper will become an employer provider of apprenticeship training regulated by Ofsted, to develop specialist skills and create a new generation of British dressmakers.
Christopher said: “Through apprenticeships and training our company is committed to ensuring that young people in our town have the same opportunities to progress in life irrespective of postcode.”
The firm has not only been creating local jobs - it has also been supporting the education of local children.
It recently took the unprecedented step of sponsoring the town’s secondary school for 850 pupils - now the David Nieper Academy.
According to Christopher, Alfreton is a town illustrative of Britain’s “forgotten communities”, a phrase often used by Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.
He said: “I was encouraged by the Prime Minister’s acknowledgement of Britain’s ‘left-behind’ communities and wholeheartedly support government plans to address the north/south divide, by driving a new and better deal for communities beyond the M25.
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“All over the Ƶ in former industrial regions, rural areas, and coastal towns there are towns just like Alfreton desperate for support.
“I believe inclusion in the Honours List goes a long way to demonstrating that these towns can be a great place to work and build a career.
“With more government support, private sector and wealth creation investment we will really see these left-behind communities start to thrive.”
