Rachel achieves top SAFT grades

Determination to gain in-depth footwear industry knowledge has helped this student to further her career.

SATRA is delighted to have presented the highly regarded and internationally recognised SATRA Accredited Footwear Technician (SAFT) award to Rachel Inglis from Nottinghamshire-based Madison Trading. She joins a small and exclusive group of students who have gained distinctions in all five modules they selected from the course and, in fact, is only the third to have achieved this standard.

The SAFT course teaches six key areas in footwear production: lasts and fitting, materials and constructions, laboratory test procedures, product design and lean manufacturing, quality assurance and performance/risk assessment, and industrial footwear. Students select five of these modules, and an examination pass in each of the chosen subjects is required to gain SAFT accreditation.

Having received a BA (Hons) in Textile Management from Leeds University, Rachel began her career at Courtaulds as an account manager and spent some time working in Asia. She then moved into the field of operations, and so increased her level of responsibility. Seven years ago, Rachel joined Madison Trading as a merchandiser. An opportunity to assist the company’s senior footwear technologist then arose, and so her career took a new and exciting path.

Rachel recognised the value of the SATRA SAFT course and began her studies some 18 months ago.

“It has helped me to prepare for my demanding role,” she commented. “Knowledge of footwear production and technology is essential in order to work with customers and factories. The SAFT course gave me the confidence to do this as well as building a good relationship with SATRA.”

Rachel has now been promoted to the role of footwear technologist – in no small part because of gaining this prestigious qualification. Everyone at SATRA would like to extend their congratulations to Rachel on her success in the SAFT course and on her new appointment.

Photograph above shows SATRA chief executive, Austin Simmons, presenting Rachel Inglis with her SAFT certificate.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 36 of the July/August 2014 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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