Research into Wool industry current state and potential in Gwynedd.

Descriptions

There are many smallholders and farmers in Wales who hold flocks of Welsh Mountain sheep as well as sheep classified as rare breed that can supply fleece and yarn. There are several spinning and weaving companies in Wales who are happy to work with quantities to produce cloth and yarn on a small scale. Almost by definition, though, supply is at a ‘cottage industry’ level of wool to individuals and small textiles companies. For companies needing wool on a larger scale, obtaining Welsh wool with any traceable provenance is almost impossible.Cleaning wool is known as wool scouring. The lack of a commercial scouring facility in Wales is a factor in the inability of the industry to thrive. For more background on wool scouring please read - Wool Scouring Principles and Methods, Errol Wood https://www.woolwise.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/WOOL-482-582-12-T-02.pdfThe price of a Welsh Mountain Sheep fleece at the British Wool Marketing Board Market can beless than the cost of shearing.This is a challenge facing Gwynedd sheep farmers and one solution discussed was to addvalue to the fleece by scouring it before sale. A scouring mill might also be used to contractscour other rear breed sheep fleeces.Another important note to add is the complexity of rules governed by the British WoolMarketing Board. Currently Gwynedd or Welsh Wool joins the rest of British wool whereit’s graded and sold worldwide at mass electronic auctions. Therefore, the notion ofprovenance is lost with Welsh Wool being sold as British.This research is intended to explore the opportunity in Gwynedd of selling Welsh Wool as a product and establishing whether there is a need for Welsh Wool as a resource for producers, manufacturers and visitor/customers.Initially we are looking to commission research to look at potential solutions for the Welsh Wool industry in Gwynedd.5.0Approach•Collect all relevant information of the current Welsh Wool Industry, concentrating on the possibility of marketing wool as Welsh rather than British (Needs to be discussed with British Wool Marketing board)•What potential increase in value could marketing products as Welsh Wool add to a Welsh Mountain Sheep Fleece (Current Value – Potential Value)•How much demand is there in Gwynedd/North Wales for Welsh Wool for small manufacturers/producers’ businesses (Discussions with different groups – Calon Wlan, Baavet etc)•Identify the process of buying fleeces directly from farmers in Gwynedd. Any potential difficulties?•Is there potential for a Wool Scouring Mill in Gwynedd? (please discuss reasoning for your answer)•Prepare report (Welsh and English version) on findings to be presented to AGW.NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=87324.The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.