Kurt Geiger Expands ‘Business by Design’ Program Across the U.K.
Kurt Geiger is accelerating its educational arm of the business.
The British accessories brand’s educational program, Business by Design, celebrated its second graduation in east London on Tuesday afternoon.
The program is part of the Kurt Geiger Kindness Foundation, and encourages talent from underrepresented groups to get into the creative field. The program started off being limited to London, but will now be available to young people from across the country.
The brand announced that applications for its third cohort were open.
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“We launched Business by Design to give young people the ladders they need to climb over the walls that too often keep them out of this industry. Retail is the largest private sector employer in the U.K., yet it’s often overlooked as a rewarding, creative career. We’re committed to providing access to the industry – especially for those who wouldn’t otherwise have a way in,” said Neil Clifford, chief executive officer of Kurt Geiger.
The academy is increasing its student body by 50 percent and digitizing its teachings, which spans across design, marketing, ec-ommerce, graphic design, sales, finance, merchandising and social media to reach as many young people as possible in the U.K.
Beyond the masterclasses, students participate in one-on-one monthly mentor meetings and shadowing in various departments to get a taste of the breadth of career opportunities within a global fashion brand.
All Business by Design programs are structured to follow the product cycle of the fashion retail industry.
The masterclasses are based out of Kurt Geiger’s Farringdon headquarters, where all expenses and lunches are covered, as well as caring responsibilities for students with other financial barriers.
Sophia Johnson, the head of Business by Design academy, said that companies must do more to support rising creatives.
“We believe it’s our responsibility to support the next generation of creative talent. Ever since our first cohort graduated, I’ve dreamt of making Business by Design available beyond London. There’s untapped potential in every part of the U.K., and by digitalizing the program, we’re opening doors to more young people than ever before.”
