Corium Club

Institute for Creative Leather Technologies - Press Release

For 2011 The Institute for Creative Leather Technologies (ICLT) is making some important changes to the courses it offers. ICLT recognises that it is operating in a dramatically different economic and educational environment from that which existed when its current courses were first launched. In response to this, ICLT must be proactive in its response to the pressures which the industry and its customers now face if their offerings are to remain both relevant and successful.

Feedback from the industry and from future, present and past students indicates that the demand for traditional 3 year degree programmes is falling. This is because it is no longer economically viable for employers to commit their staff to 3 years' full time study nor for students seeking to enter the industry to study for so long before they become employable, particularly as many will build up considerable debt during their studies.

ICLT is therefore letting the BSc (Hons) Leather Technology course run out over the next 2 years and replacing it with 3 discrete 1 year courses which are:

This enables students to gain a recognised, accredited qualification at each level of study, with the potential to build to an honours degree if desired.

Within each year of study, ICLT are also breaking out individual modules which can be taken over periods of 1 to 4 weeks and which will be offered with accreditation so that a student can develop a portfolio of Continuing Professional Development and related credits leading to a formal qualification from The University of Northampton.

For 2011-12 we are offering:

Creative Leather Applications - 1 week
Leather Technology - 1 week
Leather Design and Colour - 4 weeks

For the future, ICLT plan to have all its courses, including MSc Leather Technology, available in this short modular format so that they can be offered in Northampton and in partnership with other international educational providers to afford students the maximum flexibility in gaining University of Northampton qualifications, whatever their circumstances and geographical location.

These academic developments are underpinned by the recent £800,000 redevelopment of the tannery, teaching rooms and social areas of the Leathersellers' Centre in Northampton, which was co-funded by the Leathersellers' Company and the University to support the more intensive use of the building and particularly, the tannery for accredited short courses and Continuing Professional Development and industry focussed Research and Development.

APLF 2011 Report

This year's presence at the Asia Pacific Leather Fair (APLF) on 30 March 2011 was via a joint stand with the UK Leather Federation (UKLF). The show proved a success with a steady flow of attendees and a significant number of enquiries from potential students over the course of the three days. This proved an ideal opportunity for ICLT to present our recently re-branded image together with advertising our newly developed course structures for 2011 and 2012. This was supported by a press conference formally announcing these changes and then preceded with the traditional Corium Club reunion, attracting around 70 Alumni from around the world! The reunion this year was generously sponsored by APLF with the support of Union Specialties Inc and BLC Leather Technology Centre.

Thank you

The University would like to thank our Corium members and friends for making a difference; as benefactors, ambassadors and volunteers your support enables the University to play a valued role in supporting leather related industry, support current and future students and invest in research and development.

The Leathersellers' Company have been especially generous over the years. In addition to regular awards given to support student scholarships and travel bursaries and research and developments, a significant donation of £400,000 has contributed to the refurbishment and upgrading of facilities in the tannery. They were generous hosts at the Hong Kong Club in April and played an ambassadorial role, visiting key partners in China.

There are almost too many people to thank but a few individuals and organisations are worthy of particular thanks. One such person is Bill Greene, of Union Specialities, who was unable to be with us in Hong Kong. He supports sponsorship of the Corium Club event each year and has helped create a tradition that will live on and provide a forum for Corium alumni to network and stay in touch.

Micropak, a key sponsor of APLF also support a student scholarship at the University of Northampton. Leela Prasad Pamidumukkalla, is one of those unique characters that come along occasionally and he has already made an indelible mark on the Institute. As the Chairman of the Corium Club he actively arranges events for students and staff and is an energetic and enthusiastic scholar. His attendance and participation in academic activities is commendable and we expect him to successfully complete year 2 of the BSc in Leather Technology with ease.

Scottish Leather Group, ULKF, Gitonde and Pittards are all good friends of the Institute, facilitating visits and providing processional support, materials and advice for staff and students.

Finally, to all the many individuals who make regular donations to the Institute and help provide much needed financial assistance to our students we would like to say a very big thank you.

There was a time....

There was a time when trade fairs were about partying. Remember those days? In the spring you went to Alexandra Palace and in the autumn to Paris. Not a lot of work got done but a small fortune was spent on entertainment. Even towards the end of the 20th century when shows in London were long passed into history Paris could still steal the lion's share of any marketing budget and Managing Directors felt they had to make some sort of statement with over-elaborate stands and bring all their senior colleagues to share the experience of spending the hard earned profits.

Then, around the late 1980s the world began to globalise in a serious way and trade fairs were the perfect tool to meet a lot of new customers in a variety of different parts of the world. Twenty years on a tannery who meets a new customer at a trade fair generally feels they have failed in their market research as in a mature market like leather you should already know everyone. So when you go to Hong Kong these days it is all about work but rarely about seeking out new customers.

This March more than anything the issue that was top of mind was hide prices. We knew things had got out of hand before the recession but no one had thought they could ever bounce back so strongly so soon after. With oil and other commodities jumping up and currencies quite unstable what was a tanner to do. They used to say in the USA in the 19th century, before rapid chrome tanning, that to become a tanner you had to be a banker first as so much money was tied up. It was getting like that again, and with the banks still sorting out their balance sheets borrowing more has not been an easy option. And who dares sell forward for six or nine months in such an uncertain climate?

Discussions of this sort take to forms. Intensive discussions on stands with suppliers and customers to work out the state of play and what actions you should take are the primary activity. But in times of uncertainty informal discussions are just as important to provide context, a feeling that your peers are on the same page and how they are responding. For this, where better than at the Corium Club reunion? Here you meet old colleagues and new ones from many senior levels and can talk as intensely about the current business climate as you wish, or be as relaxed and casual as you prefer.

So it was this year in Hong Kong. The Corium Club Reunion returned to its normal stand-a-lone format and a full house filled the room as ever. Rachel Garwood stood in for Dr Wilkinson and was much appreciated for her relaxed brevity and John Basford proposed the toast.

Same time next year

The tannery section at the APLF is down to just one floor but the other halls also attract the brands and customers reminding the industry that it is part of a very complex supply network. In a way this has made it more important to attend rather than less. Shanghai is a very different audience so important to some in a different way. APLF Hong Kong has done a fascinating job in staying relevant with its new mix of concurrent events and seminars. It is not so much about selling leather as maintaining programmes and understanding the industry trends. It is not so much that one wants to be seen there as one needs to meet colleagues and understand what is trending. It is truly a case for Corium Club members of "same time next year".

Mike Redwood

Thank you Scottish Leather Group

The long and successful relationship between the University and Scottish Leather Group was celebrated by the unveiling of a Thank you plaque at the Leather Sellers Centre, Park Campus on June 15, 2010.

The British School of Leather Technology received a donation of upholstery leather from the Scottish Leather Group for the new furniture in the refurbished reception area of the Leathersellers' Centre. Furniture upholstered in leather donated by the group is also in the University's Sunley Management Centre at Park Campus.

Mark Wilkinson added: 'We thank the Scottish Leather Group for their continued support, not only for their generous recent upholstery gifts but for the overall relationship they have with the University.

The Corium Club

The word 'corium' is used by tanners to describe that part of the true dermis which is formed by an interlocking, three dimensional network of collagen fibre bundles which are in turn made up of fibres and fibrils.

The concept of the corium layer epitomises the ethos of the Corium Club a fraternal network of people with a common interest - leather. Corium Club members are found throughout the world, wherever leather is made.

The Leathersellers Technical College was established in 1909 in Tower Bridge Road, London. In 1920 the Corium Club was inaugurated. In the early days the club was the social organisation for Leathersellers students organising dances, concerts and 'smokers'. On completion of his or her course at the University each student became a life member.

The University-based Corium Club maintains its original function to include all past and present staff and students. But with increasing international communication the worldwide strength and contact has increased. Membership has been opened up to include ex-students of the Northampton colleges and others with strong connections with BSLT even thought they may not have taken a formal course. The number of 'open' social events have become established annual events - an annual dinner in Northampton and a social event during the Hong Kong Exhibition. Since 1990 strenuous efforts have been made to create a complete database of members worldwide.

To ensure you receive Corium Club information please send us your current details, including email, on the online form which you can also use to update your information, if you are already a member. Otherwise please email your details to alumni@northampton.ac.uk.