The Higher National Certificate in Art and Design (Fashion and Textiles) is a one-year course designed to equip students with a wide range of technical and creative skills relevant to progression onto the Level 5 Higher National Diploma Top-Up or for a variety of creative career pathways in industry. The course provides students with an opportunity to master the skills and techniques of their chosen specialism and develop higher level skills to meet the skills shortages within the Fashion industry. Students will broaden their experience and depth of knowledge, allowing them to develop skills and attributes essential for a career in the fashion sector. The knowledge and skills acquired on the programme link directly to the vocational context and will diversify into a range of practical and technical skills required by the specialist industries. These include (but are not exclusive to): creative and conceptual tailoring; fashion design; traditional and contemporary illustration; traditional and innovative garment production techniques; and business and enterprise competence.The course is highly creative and designed to equip students with the skills they will need to work within the many facets of the fashion and textile design industry. Strong links to the creative industries will facilitate industry-related briefs and real scenarios that provide an opportunity for students to acquire professional work ethics, time planning skills and working within a creative team.