CELEBRAT N 2005 - 2015
Fashion Retail Academy 10th Anniversary Awards
FAS_XXXXX_Awards_Book_v5.indd 1 03/07/2015 13:59
FAS_XXXXX_Awards_Book_v5.indd_1-1.pgs 07.03.2015 14:03 Dalim Hi-Res PDF Data Our Vision: To be the international provider of choice for the retail industry. Our Mission: To inspire and develop talent for a career in fashion retail with an offer matched to current and future industry needs.
A decade has passed and the Academy continues to go from strength to strength. None of this would have been possible without the founding partners, the dedicated FRA team, the retailers and companies who work with the students and offer placements. To everyone that has been involved, made the vision a reality or championed the idea, I would like to extend a huge thank you. I look forward to what the next chapter of the FRA looks like and count on your continued support.
Sir Philip Green
CELEBRAT1OON 2
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Ten years ago Sir Philip Green had what seemed at the time an impossible dream of opening a vocational academy to prepare future leaders for the fashion retail industry. Support was quickly gained along with funding from the fi ve founding companies – Arcadia, Marks & Spencer, Next, F&F at Tesco and Experian. The educational support in the development of the curriculum was provided by the University of the Arts, and the Government were delighted to support and fund the new venture.
In 2005, the fi rst 50 students started in the temporary facilities at the London College of Fashion on one of two year long programmes. Level 2, equivalent to 5 GCSEs or Level 3, equivalent to 2 A Levels.
Within a year a building had been purchased, completely re-fi tted and opened by the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Student numbers were rapidly growing and the support from the retail industry was overwhelming with new retailers signing up all the time.
This tenth anniversary book has been written to give a fl avour of why FRA has been so successful, and today, as it celebrates its ten year anniversary, it can boast at having trained over 5000 full time students, 1255 students on our short courses and 95 students on our post graduate programme.
The book aims to give a fl avour of the unique nature of how the curriculum is delivered and particularly how the retail industry has rallied in their support of FRA, offering placements, projects, master classes, but also how they have benefi ted from this association.
There is no doubt that FRA graduates are fi lling jobs – over 60% of Level 4 graduates leave with work and over 10 years 90% of Level 4 students surveyed are in employment. We know that across the whole cohort, 77% are in employment and 13% are in higher or further education.
The curriculum offer has grown in response to the needs of the retail industry and the offer is now 13 courses including work based learning through apprenticeships and the Tesco Enspire programme.
The strategic plan for the next decade is well developed and the building will undergo a major refurbishment over the summer to support the growth plans.
The FRA is proud to be a unique example of a truly employer led college created BY the industry FOR the industry.
We would like to thank all our supporters who have made this possible, and look forward to building on the foundations and to the exciting plans ahead.
Kim Longman, Lee Lucas, Chair Principal
3 CELEBRAT1OON
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“As a founder and key suppor ter of the FRA, Arcadia are passionate about providing opportunities for the next generation of retail talent. The increasing number of students securing employment in the industry is testament to the success of the unique formula at the FRA.”
CELEBRAT11OON 4
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FAS_XXXXX_Awards_Book_v5.indd_4-4.pgs 07.03.2015 14:04 Dalim Hi-Res PDF Data 5073 enrolments over 10 years
Student Enrolment Numbers (Total: 5073)
800 725 731 16 770 668 700 619 14 Number o 600 12 ents
d 475 500 453 10 Stu f 352 400 8 f Courses er o b 300 230 6 Num