BFA Footwear Courses – 2023

Eurofins | BLC – Understanding Footwear

Ideal for designers, buyers, quality control, and retail staff, the course gives attendees the knowledge to support sourcing and selection decisions and the expertise to help troubleshoot downstream manufacturing defects and consumer issues.

The 1-day course is held ‘in person’ at BLC’s HQ in Northampton or can be delivered at your UK office.

The course provides the next step in the journey to footwear expertise by giving attendees practical examples and information.

• The Components of Footwear
• Materials Used in Footwear – Uppers
• Materials Used in Footwear – Others
• Lasts and Fitting
• Footwear Construction and Product Finishing • What can go wrong and how can we help? Pricing:

At BLC offices: Non-Members- £385   BFA Members – £325
At your office: Please contact BLC for a quote, depending on numbers.

Eurofins | BLC – Understanding Leather

BLC’s ‘Understanding Leather’ course aims to help delegates improve their overall knowledge of leather. Covering the fundamentals of the leather making process and explaining the different leather types and their performances, this improved understanding will help you avoid problems when sourcing and enable you to select the correct leather type based on your product specification, ensuring that you get the most from your products.

The 1-day course can be held ‘in person’ at BLC’s HQ in Northampton, or at your UK office, and is also available online.

The course content covers:

• The Structure of Leather Material
• Defects and what causes them
• The Leather Manufacturing process
• Trends in the Leather Industry
• The Different leather types
• Due diligence and what can go wrong

At BLC offices: Non-Members- £385   BFA Members – £325
Online: Non-Members- £270   BFA Members – £220
At your office: Please contact BLC for a quote.

Eurofins | BLC – Chemical Compliance and Product Safety

Manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers across the supply chain have a duty to protect consumers and the environment from exposure to harmful chemicals within their products. Deciphering your business’ chemical compliance can be challenging, especially with the variances of regional and international legislation. This course will guide you through essential legislation that may affect your business and how you can ensure that you are compliant, in a simple step-by-step process.

The 1-day course can be held ‘in person’ at BLC’s HQ in Northampton, or at your UK office, and is also available online.

The course content covers:

• What is a restricted substance?
• A detailed discussion of RS in the leather industry including Chromium VI, formaldehyde, PCP, azo-dyes, fungicides, NPEO’s, heavy metals and phthalates. • Topical Global legislation – latest regulations, REACH, Prop 65 and CPSIA
• What can go wrong?
• Due diligence and the importance of testing
• Laboratory demonstrations and risk assessments

At BLC offices: Non-Members- £385    BFA Members – £325
Online: Non-Members- £290    BFA Members -£240
At your office: Please contact BLC for a quote.

Eurofins | BLC Leather and Textile Sustainability landscape

Leather and textile materials sustainability is a complex issue and one that covers a range of topics in the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) space. This course provides delegates with expert tuition on the key aspects of leather and textile sustainability, including traceability, animal welfare, deforestation, and exotic materials. An understanding of these issues can help those who work in the footwear industry, or sell footwear, to manage risk and make informed business decisions.

The 1-day course can be held ‘in person’ at BLC’s HQ in Northampton, or at your UK office, and is also available online.

The course content covers:

• What does ‘Sustainable’ mean?
  • Identifying Sustainability Priorities for your business
  • Leather – Sustainability Landscape
  • Chemical Management
  • Rangeland Stewardship Council
  • Alternatives to Leather, Material Considerations
  • Cotton Sustainability Landscape
  • Initiating Sustainability Strategy
  • Engaging Consumers and Concluding Thoughts

At BLC offices: Non-Members- £385   BFA Members – £325
Online: Non-Members- £290   BFA Members – £240
At your office: Please contact BLC for a quote.

SATRA Footwear Foundations in partnership with BFA

The course provides a broad technical appreciation of footwear development, production and quality assurance from concept through to consumer. It is aimed at designers, product developers, material suppliers, buyers, sales and marketing staff.

An online course with assessments during the modules and a certificate at the end.

It consists of the following modules:

• Design
• Upper materials
• Soles
• Structural components
• Closing
• Lasting and making
• Sole attachment
• Finishing
• Fitting and comfort
• Testing
• Customer issues.

On average it takes around 1hr to per module to complete, dependent upon footwear experience.

Non-Members £1450   BFA Members – £1200* Satra Members – £995*

*Businesses who are members of both BFA and Satra will receive a special discounted price of £745.

SATRA Accredited Footwear Technologist (Stage 4)

SATRA’s SAFT training course leads to an internationally-recognised qualification, and is clear evidence that the individual is a footwear technologist with a proven range of knowledge. The SAFT qualification has been around now for 20 years and is well known globally in the industry with the course also run in America and Asia, therefore achieving the qualification will demonstrate the individual has a rounded, comprehensive technical knowledge.

SAFT consists of seven modules, which are:

• Lasts, fitting and comfort
• Materials
• Testing
• Constructions and product design
• Risk assessment and quality assurance
• Industrial footwear
• Production efficiency, costing and specifications

Qualification
Once 5 SAFT modules have been taken by an individual they can sit exams (held twice a year) for each module taken. 5 passed modules are required to obtain the SATRA Accredited Footwear Technologist Qualification. (exam cost is £100 per module)

This course is available only to SATRA members – £6300