The UK's first skills academy – focussing on fashion retail - is expected to be launched this autumn.
The UK Fashion Retail Academy is to be a joint venture between the Government and Arcadia Group, with an initial intake of 60 16-18 year-olds.
Arcadia's Philip Green, who said the eventual intake would be nearer 350.
Green said: "The ethos and curriculum have been created to encourage entrepreneurial talents through both unique behind the scenes insight and direct contact on a regular basis with CEO's and senior retail executives from many different areas of the Retail Industry."
The initial funding costs of £20 million to set up the Academy have been provided on a 50/50 basis by Arcadia and the DfES/Learning and Skills Council. On an ongoing basis the Academy will be funded from the Learning and Skills Council budget and support from retailers through donations.
Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Ruth Kelly, said: "Arcadia's exciting innovative Skills Academy for Fashion Retail will blaze a trail for our new Skills Academy programme. By supporting this joint venture Philip Green is showing a real commitment to productive partnership in education. The Academy will promote fashion retail as a career, and will deliver a flow of young people to the industry with excellent skills.”
Students will receive tuition in many aspects of retail including design, technology, IT, marketing, visual merchandising and buying and will be encouraged and helped to take part-time work within the sector.
Those in their first year will work towards a Certificate of Fashion Retail (equivalent to GCSE) for those in their first year and a Diploma of Fashion Retail (equivalent to A-Level) in their second year.
Interested applicants can fill in an on-line application form which goes live on April 1 on the Arcadia website: www.arcadiagroup.co.uk/recruitment
The UK Fashion Retail Academy is to be a joint venture between the Government and Arcadia Group, with an initial intake of 60 16-18 year-olds.
Arcadia's Philip Green, who said the eventual intake would be nearer 350.
Green said: "The ethos and curriculum have been created to encourage entrepreneurial talents through both unique behind the scenes insight and direct contact on a regular basis with CEO's and senior retail executives from many different areas of the Retail Industry."
The initial funding costs of £20 million to set up the Academy have been provided on a 50/50 basis by Arcadia and the DfES/Learning and Skills Council. On an ongoing basis the Academy will be funded from the Learning and Skills Council budget and support from retailers through donations.
Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Ruth Kelly, said: "Arcadia's exciting innovative Skills Academy for Fashion Retail will blaze a trail for our new Skills Academy programme. By supporting this joint venture Philip Green is showing a real commitment to productive partnership in education. The Academy will promote fashion retail as a career, and will deliver a flow of young people to the industry with excellent skills.”
Students will receive tuition in many aspects of retail including design, technology, IT, marketing, visual merchandising and buying and will be encouraged and helped to take part-time work within the sector.
Those in their first year will work towards a Certificate of Fashion Retail (equivalent to GCSE) for those in their first year and a Diploma of Fashion Retail (equivalent to A-Level) in their second year.
Interested applicants can fill in an on-line application form which goes live on April 1 on the Arcadia website: www.arcadiagroup.co.uk/recruitment
