British Footwear Association

The British Footwear Association (BFA) is a non-profit trade association that exists to support footwear businesses big and small, including retailers, designers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and service providers. Our mission is to support, represent, educate, and provide advice to our members to help them achieve sustainable and profitable growth. From concept to carrier bag, the BFA is at the center of the UK's footwear industry, enabling a myriad of businesses and sectors to come together to share, support, and learn.

Our Membership Network

Join a network of footwear businesses, manufacturers, and brands, and discover a community of like-minded professionals with a desire to drive the trade forward. As a member of the BFA, you will gain access to a range of benefits that will help you to grow your business and stay ahead of the competition. Our membership benefits include exclusive monthly reports, an extensive resource library, international trade statistics, training and HR services, advocacy, and more.

Support and Resources

We produce monthly Retail Reports and Quarterly Import and Export Summaries that help to guide BFA Members and inform their business decisions. These reports are written exclusively for the BFA by our resident economist and reflect the nuances of the footwear and leather goods sector. We also host a growing hub of information developed exclusively for members of the British Footwear Association, where you will find government resources, training tools, industry reports, and expert advice on environmental issues, human resources, and sustainability.

Training and Development

The BFA Shoe School is dedicated to providing high-quality training and development opportunities for the footwear industry. Our courses cover a range of topics, from an introduction to footwear manufacturing to advanced training in industry skills and apprenticeships. We are committed to helping our members to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the industry.

Industry Representation

As the voice of the UK footwear industry, the BFA represents the interests of our members and works closely with Governments, trade organisations, and other related associations and businesses to support, develop, protect, prepare, and promote the industry. We are passionate about growing your business, which in turn will contribute to the creation of a stronger UK footwear industry.