I've got a history with the garment industry, or rather a family history. My dad's parents both worked in it in Leicester for many years. At the time jobs like these, many of them done by women, were obviously hard work, and factory-based. But they were sufficiently well paid to enable my grandparents to bring up a family.

These were skilled working class jobs, or C2 in the NRS grading system. For instance my grandpa was a pattern maker for shoes and his job was apparently deemed sufficiently important for the production of army boots in WW2 that it was a reserved occupation, alongside the rather more famous Bevin Boys.

Obviously with globalisation many of the decent, well-paid jobs in the garment industry that were previously done in in the UK have gone as manufacturers have chased lower labour costs around the world. The word 'redundancy' is one that has a special place in my mind, and the effect on families of losing jobs has had a significant influence on me and what I have chosen to do at work.

But employment in the garment industry in Leicester hasn't disappeared, though it has changed. A report by Labour Behind The Label issued in June last year focused on conditions in the supply chain of online retailer Boohoo. The report highlighted the risk from Covid caused by working practices in the supply chain of the company which it says accounts for almost 75–80% production in Leicester and sources around 60–70% of its production from Leicester.

Issues identified in Leicester production sites included significant underpayment of the minimum wage, non-payment of holiday pay and intimidation of vulnerable workers. Boohoo has promised to put things right (though the Levitt review was also clear that board members knew about the issues before there was media exposure). But it is clear that parts of the garment industry in the UK do not offer anything like the sort of employment that was previously good enough for members of my family.

The company's shares tanked when the Labour Behind The Label report went public, indicating that for public-facing brands like Boohoo reputationally-damaging allegations of exploitative working practices can be financially material. (And for me personally an ESG story had a link back to why I do what I do.)

These issues are sadly not new. The excellent Sarah o' Connor on the FT had reported on conditions in Leicester before the Boohoo story broke. There had been select committee sessions. But it took a campaign group like Labour Behind The Label to drive the story into the news and catalyse action on the part of the major employer.

So, I thought I'd do something to help them. As a man in solidly middle class occupation I have had a different experience of the pandemic. The only time I've ever worked in factories was as temporary jobs in and after university. Instead I've been able to sit at home with a laptop for much of the last 18 months. That in turn has meant that I've been able to get back into running, just as I've turned 50, as I live right by Peckham Rye.

So I'm putting my family history, interest in labour issues and ability to run together. On Sunday 19th September I'm running the Great Bristol Run half marathon and I'm raising money for Labour Behind The Label. This time it's personal...

I'd be really grateful if any of you could make a small contribution.

Thank you!