Pentland Brands has joined hands with academic institutions across the UK to help up-and-coming designers kickstart their careers in these challenging times. The company is engaged in promoting designers through mentoring, teaching employability skills and providing opportunities to develop their portfolios. It is helping them test and refine their skills.

The company has become part of the UK Government Kickstart scheme, which offers funding for young people, aged 16-24, receiving Universal Credit. “We’re currently recruiting two new positions via the scheme – a Junior Motion Graphics Designer and a Junior Social Content Designer. Both will work in our Creative Talent team and, with the guidance of our creative talent manager Laura Bromley, work on live briefs from across our portfolio of sports, outdoor and lifestyle brands,” the company said.

Bromley also works closely with design students across the UK to help them get the best out of their CVs, interviews and portfolios. “We’ve recently partnered with the University of South Wales to provide fashion communication students with personalised interview, CV and portfolio feedback,” Pentland Brands said.

This year the company is hosting several creative careers talks, including lectures at the universities of East London, Lincoln and Coventry, as well as the Nottingham Trent University’s Creative Futures programme and Manchester Fashion Institute’s employability week.

“We join forces with universities across the UK to support design students with live briefs. We’re currently working with students at Ravensbourne University, who have taken part in a live brief to design a miniature collection of outdoor accessories for Berghaus. These briefs help young creatives showcase their work and gain advice from our in-house designers,” it said.

Pentland Brands has also donated fabric and outerwear to support a project run by Nottingham Trent University’s Fashion Design Course. The university has collaborated with homelessness charity Emmanuel House Support Centre, with a brief to make clothing for rough sleepers using second-hand garments. The final products will be available to those who need them and used to raise funds to support homeless people in Nottingham.

Bromley said: “At Pentland Brands, we’re so passionate about supporting the next generation of creative talent. We believe in them and the great impact they will bring to our business. It’s vital for students to feel supported and inspired and to never give up on their dreams as they are the future!”

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SV)

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