Programme launched on 25 September 2025

On 25 September 2025, Stronger Together launched a new UK Apparel and General Merchandise (A&GM) Programme. The programme is the natural evolution of the Fast Forward initiative, which will cease in its current form from 1st January 2026.

What does this mean for suppliers currently in the Fast Forward initiative?

1. I supply to a A&GM Programme Sponsor – ASOS, Fred Perry, New Look, River Island
2. I’m a Fast Forward Supplier Engagement Programme Subscriber
3. I supply to a Fast Forward Member Brand that isn’t a Stronger Together A&GM Sponsor
4. None of the above apply but I’m interested in finding out more

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1. I supply to a A&GM Programme Sponsor – ASOS, Fred Perry, New Look, River Island

• Suppliers to the new Programme Sponsors can access a suite of Stronger Together training.
• Sponsors’ suppliers may be entitled to one free delegate place* per course. 
• Listed below are the interactive workshops available to Sponsors’ suppliers.
• You may find one or several of these are applicable to your business depending on business size, type and progress.
• Find out more about each workshop using the links below and, if eligible, claim your free place by completing this form. 

Apparel and General Merchandise Programme Training Workshops

Fair Work in the UK

Tackling Modern Slavery in the Apparel and General Merchandise Sectors

Tackling Labour Exploitation in UK Warehousing

Ensuring Effective Workplace Grievance Mechanisms

Effective Human Rights Due Diligence in Global Supply Chains

*There is one free delegate place per organisation per course on open workshops, unless otherwise indicated, for Sponsors’ UK-based suppliers of own label goods-for-resale at any tier in the UK (e.g. manufacturers, processors, warehouses, importers, intermediaries), direct service suppliers, direct labour providers and labour providers servicing Sponsors’ UK based primary suppliers. Free delegate places renew every three years.   

2. I’m a Fast Forward Supplier Engagement Programme Subscriber

• The Fast Forward Supplier Engagement Programme (SEP) has been available for any UK supplier to join since launching in August 2021. It has enabled businesses to access an online web portal with pre-recorded training videos, guidance and resources – in particular supporting those businesses going through the Fast Forward audit process. SEP subscribers also accessed webinars, suppliers forums and one free place per year on the Fast Forward Supplier Training, which focused on guiding them through the resources available online.
• From 1st January 2026, the SEP subscription benefits will be changing. Businesses going through a Fair Work audit (the evolution of the Fast Forward audit) will subscribe to the SEP to access a web portal focussed on supporting businesses through the audit process, through a continued range of training videos, guidance and pre-audit supporting documents.
• Suppliers will access free training places differently through their Sponsor (see section above) – with a wider range of courses available to suit their needs.
• Until 31st December 2025, suppliers that have an active SEP subscription but have not yet used their free SEP Fast Forward Supplier Training place, will be able to use this free place on the Fair Work in the UK training course.

3. I supply to a Fast Forward Member Brand that isn’t a Stronger Together A&GM Sponsor

• The Fast Forward initiative continues until the end of 2025 during a period of transition to the Stronger Together UK Apparel and General Merchandise Programme.
• Fast Forward Member Brands will have the opportunity to transition to sponsoring the Stronger Together UK Apparel and General Programme when their renewal is due. We will announce new A&GM Sponsors as they join the programme.
• In the meantime, if you are an SEP Subscriber you can continue to access those benefits (see section 2) available to you, and if you start supplying to an A&GM Sponsors (see section 1) you will be able to access the new programme benefits.

4. None of the above apply but I’m interested in finding out more

• The training courses listed in Section 1 are all available as open workshops, at accessible prices, to businesses not in one of our Stronger Together Sponsorship programmes.
• If you’re interested in learning more about the programme, you can watch the recording of our launch webinar and get in touch at events@stronger2gether.org for further information.