Leathersellers sponsors tannery apprenticeship
Ancient City of London-based industry guild The Leathersellers’ Company has taken a concrete step to preserve leather manufacturing in the UK by sponsoring a tannery apprenticeship at specialist start-up Billy Tannery.
Founders Jack Millington and Rory Harker launched Billy Tannery in 2015 after a successful crowdfunding campaign. Jack Millington was working on his family’s farm, tried to find a tannery that would process goatskins, failed to find one, and decided to set up his own.
The company now produces its own leather and makes it into bags, accessories and bespoke projects for the hospitality industry.
“Making use of skins that were previously going to waste is a fantastic feeling,” Mr Millington said recently. “It’s an exciting time for us as, thanks to support from the Leathersellers, our first tannery apprentice will be joining us in November.”
