We are proud to support global fashion brand Kurt Geiger who, last week, celebrated the graduation of its Business by Design Academy (BBD) Class of 2025 at The Brewery, Chiswell Street.
With guests including Bianca Saunders, Ella Thomas, Karen Binns, the Flag Twins, Zacharia Noble and many more the ceremony was led by acclaimed broadcaster and household name, Clara Amfo who delivered an empowering keynote celebrating the students’ resilience and creativity. This year’s 33 graduates join the growing network of alumni, following in the footsteps of the inaugural 2024 cohort – 30% of whom are now employed full-time at Kurt Geiger, with others securing various roles and placements across the creative sector.
The graduation saw students presented with a number of different work-based prizes and placements. Three students, Jennifer Peters, Mohammed Hussain and Monique Miller were awarded full-time paid apprenticeship roles at Kurt Geiger in the Buying, Merchandising and Marketing departments, allowing them to complete studies whilst working in these newly created positions. For the first time, a further three students; Bill Opare, Laura Quadri and Ben Sholongo were recognised for their enterprising enthusiasm and given an entrepreneurial grant to financially contribute towards developing their own ventures. Topping it all off, student Nylah Rosario James, was awarded a one year paid internship at Kurt Geiger’s Head Office, where she will gain hands-on experience in design, buying, merchandising, marketing and PR, working closely with industry leaders to develop her skills and launch her creative career.
BBD is Kurt Geiger’s fully funded career incubator for young creatives. Its latest cohort graduation marked a significant milestone, as it announced the national expansion of the Academy. Starting Autumn 2025, BBD will become fully digitised to open access to young people across the UK and not just in London. The in-person London programme will also increase its intake by 50%, offering even more opportunities to young people from underrepresented backgrounds.
The expansion of BBD comes at a vital moment. According to Feb ’25 ONS data, the number of 16–24-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) rose by 100,000 in the last 12 months reaching an 11-year high. With 13.4% of young people NEET between Oct-Dec 2024, many talented young people risk being left behind.
Despite contributing £124 billion to the economy and employing 2.4 million people the creative industry remains out of reach for many:
• Only 17% of creative workers come from working-class backgrounds
• 86% of creative internships are unpaid, shutting out those who can’t afford to work for free
• 43% of young people aspire to creative careers, but 42% feel it’s financially unviable
Launched by The Kurt Geiger Kindness Foundation in January 2024, BBD was created to break down these barriers. The free seven- month, AQA Unit Award-accredited programme is based at Kurt Geiger’s Farringdon headquarters, covering all expenses – including support for those with caring responsibilities or financial barriers. It offers weekly masterclasses and training sessions, one-to-one mentoring, and paid work experience in design, buying, digital marketing, and merchandising.
The Academy also partners with leading creatives. For the upcoming cohort, British designer Bianca Saunders and stylist/creative director Karen Binns will support students through mentorship, masterclasses, and real-world work experience. Applications for next year’s in-person London cohort are now open and you can apply here.