The British Fashion CounCil has announced that it is pledging to raise
10 million pounds over the next 10 years to invest in and attract young
design talent to study in London. This announcement follows the revamping
of the , which will raise funds for the
British Fashion Council Education Foundation.
The investment plan was announced following the British Fashion
Council’s annual Graduate Preview Day, a one-day event that allows industry
professionals to view the works of fashion college students. In addition to
raising funds, the plan also includes a series of education initiatives for
the coming year, including a new fashion apprenticeship and a national
Saturday Club, as well as the introduction of an ‘Exceptional Talent’
scholarship.
British Fashion Council chief executive, Caroline Rush said: “The UK has
undoubtedly the world’s leading reputation when it comes to art schools.
The BFC is dedicated to securing future talent and establishing pathways
through education and into employment. This includes working with global
fashion players and businesses to support scholarships and competitions to
support the most talented design students.
“We also recognise that institutionalised education and specific design
courses are not for everyone. We are so pleased to announce a new
apprenticeship programme that will help young people to learn about all
areas of the fashion industry and also the Saturday Clubs which will
provide even younger people the opportunity to learn about the fashion
industry.”
The British Fashion Council is set to launch the Fashion Apprenticeship
Standard in October this year, alongside the University of the Arts London,
who will be the awarding body that creates the qualification. The aim of
the apprenticeship is to create further growth in the fashion sector and to
offer a career path through other areas in the industry, not just in
design.
The apprenticeship will encompass a six-month foundation core which will
then lead into twelve months focused on one area of the business, such as
production development, sales and logistics or fashion marketing and
communications with the aim to make Britain the best place to start,
develop and grow creative, innovative businesses. To establish best
practice the BFC has set up an Employer Group with representatives from
Jasper Conran, Mario Schwab, Mary Katrantzou, Roksanda and Talk PR.
Zoe Olive, chair of the Fashion Apprenticeship Employer Group added: “As
employers we feel this is a unique and unparalleled way into the industry
which will provide learners with a broad understanding of the industry as
it stands today and to equip them for work in a variety of fields.
“This course provides a sound knowledge and experience base from which
to jump straight into employment or further education. We are incredibly
excited to see the apprenticeship get off the ground and to welcome the
first candidates for the programme into our industry.”
Looking to address fashion needs for high-school students, the British
Fashion Council has also launched a national initiative, the Fashion and
Business Saturday Club with the Sorrell Foundation, which aims at giving
young people, aged 14-16, the opportunity to study fashion at their local
college or university for free.
The aim of the Saturday Club is to inspire and nurture talent and
provide opportunities to go on to further education in the creative
industries. The colleges involved will provide expert tuition in a variety
of fashion techniques, with a strong emphasis on enterprise skills. As well
as attending practical weekly classes, Saturday Club members get to take
part in exhibition visits, meet professionals working in the fashion
industry, attend masterclasses and have their work exhibited at Somerset
House in London.
The Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Brighton
are among the institutions that have been involved in the pilot initiative.
Manchester has a sportswear theme including masterclasses with Nabil Nayal,
a previous recipient of a British Fashion Council Education Foundation
Scholarship, while Brighton offers students the chance to try out fashion
illustration, print design, and machine sewing. The programme also included
a masterclass in partnership with the Royal Opera House at their Costume
Centre.
Lady Frances Sorrell said: “We are delighted about working with the BFC,
a lot of young people are interested in clothing, it’s where they start
their interest in creativity. The idea of the Saturday Club is to show
14-16-year-olds pathways into different sides of the creative industries so
they can discover new opportunities.”
In addition, the ‘Exceptional Talent’ scholarship has been introduced,
which is an emergency fund for talent, identified by their tutors, who are
in need of financial support.
The British Fashion Council also announced the winners of four design
competitions, the Burberry Fashion Design competition, Jigsaw and Pongees
Eveningwear competition, Topshop and Topman Graduate Talent competition and
The Anne Tyrrell MBE Outstanding Portfolio competition, as part of Graduate
Preview Day.
The Edinburgh School of Art’s Rhys McKenna scooped the Burberry design
competition, which asked students to explore the idea of collaboration
across different sectors of the industry and awarded McKenna with 2,000
pounds, as well as a three-month placement in the company.
Eppuyar Hunt from Manchester Metropolitan University won the Jigsaw
eveningwear competition and will work with the high street retailer to
produce one of her garments, which will then be sold as part of its
autumn/winter 2016 collection.
There was further success for the Edinburgh School of Art, as Jonathan
Preston Moore won the Topman Graduate Talent prize, while the Topshop
honour went to Hollie France from Northumbria University. They both win
paid internships as part of Topshop’s graduate design programme.
The Anne Tyrell MBE Outstanding Portfolio award recognised the work of
students from the Royal College of Art.
Image: Courtesy of British Fashion Council. The winners of the Graduate
Preview Day: Rhys McKenna, Eppyar Hunt, Jonathan Preston Moore and Fiona
Cartmel