Fashion Retail Academy Gets 10 million Grant

Bhs and Arcadia owner Philip Green has seen his £10m pledge of support for a UK fashion retail academy matched by similar funds from the government, Education Secretary Ruth Kelly said that it would commit £10m in funding to the academy, the first of a number planned to focus on developing vocational skills.

The fashion retail academy will open in September 2005.It will be supported by Arcadia and set up in collaboration with the London College of Fashion and retail sector skills agencies. It will offer places to 60 students aged 16 to 18 a year, who will learn what Green calles the "fundamental skills" of clothing retail and create a "conveyor belt" of new talent.

Other retailers, including Marks & Spencer, are also expected to support the academy either through funding or by committing to work placement and mentoring. Ruth Kelly said: "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."

However, the first set of students will start their training against the backdrop of continuing consumer caution. At the launch, Green the predicted little upturn in the months ahead; He said: "It's pretty tough right across the whole sector. I don't think there is any significant growth in the short term. "There has definitely been a slowing down since last October. From the more clothing point of view, the weather has been slightly unusual for the opening of spring, but I think it is going to be a tougher year."