Modern day tailor of Gloucester, Emma Willis puts Gloucester on the map

Emma Willis is an extraordinary local business woman with ambition and passion to put Gloucester on the map for employing local skills and talent and regenerating the city. Following her recent move to Bearland House, an impressive 18th century building with an ornamental façade, Emma’s vision is to transform Bearland House into a magnet for the finest tailoring in the area and in doing so, help regenerate the city with attracting new visitors.

Emma Willis is an extraordinary local business woman with ambition and passion to put Gloucester on the map for employing local skills and talent and regenerating the city. Following her recent move to Bearland House, an impressive 18th century building with an ornamental façade, Emma’s vision is to transform Bearland House into a magnet for the finest tailoring in the area and in doing so, help regenerate the city with attracting new visitors. 

As a quintessential modern British designer, Emma Willis produces her exquisite fine gentlemen’s shirts with all the attention to detail and tradition that have made British cutting and sewing skills and London’s Jermyn Street famous throughout the world. Using the finest quality of cottons, linens, silks and real mother of pearl buttons, her team of 14 local cutters, pattern makers, machinists, button/ button holers, enders, pressers and packers make approximately 150 ready to wear shirts a week at Bearland House, with each shirt taking precision and care amounting to approximately 3 hours from fabric to hanger. They export worldwide.

Employing local talent and keeping skilled traditions alive is at the very heart of Emma’s vision for her business. Focusing on exclusivity and quality, Emma wants to put Gloucester firmly on the map for British shirtmaking, by providing a retail and manufacturing outlet for her ready to wear and bespoke range of shirts and accessories.

Growing her Gloucester manufacturing business from 4 to 16 in just 4 years, Emma is passionate about recruiting local talent and now wants to expand her business through the apprenticeship route to help keep traditional cutting and sewing skills alive. Speaking at local schools, Emma is keen to enthuse the next generation and her business is awash with interest for work placements.

Commenting about her vision, Emma said: “I’m passionate about making beautiful shirts and started my business over 20 years ago. Employing, making and training locally here in Gloucester is integral to our ethos, as is the aesthetically pleasing environment this elegant, spacious 18^th century townhouse creates for all of us who work here, and our clients who visit. Customers are able to buy their shirts in an attractive setting, and see the skilled and careful work which goes into everything we make. We all love what we do here at Bearland House.”

David Owen, Chief Executive, GFirst LEP added: “I’m delighted that Emma’s business is built on the premise of employing local talent and encouraging young people to keep traditional skills alive.  Apprenticeships are an increasingly important part of the UK’s long term plan for improved workforce development and enhanced productivity, so I’m also delighted that we can help steer her through the process of taking on an apprentice and demystify the barriers. 

If any business in Gloucestershire would like assistance with this route, then please contact GFirst LEP for help by contacting our Employment and Skills Team on 0800 002 9838."

Emma is one of the growing network of nearly 600 Ambassadors that are supporting GFirst LEP to help strengthen the local economy. For more information about the Ambassador programme, please visit this page and for information about Emma Willis and Bearland House, please visit her website www.emmawillis.com.