Business Supporters and Donors
The Fashion Retail Academy (FRA) is a unique, industry-led college, aimed at providing highly relevant courses to support progression into job roles within the fashion and retail industries. The FRA believes in education for all; personal circumstance or income should not be a barrier to education. We aim to provide support for those most in need, but we can always do more. Donations from our industry friends and partners enable us to truly transform the lives of young people, as well as providing the industry with job ready talent through our specialist education and training programmes.
Our supporters share in our vision to shape the industry leaders of tomorrow by:
- Enabling applicants from all backgrounds to attend the Fashion Retail Academy
- Creating and maintaining best-in-class, industry-standard facilities
- Promoting innovation, sustainability and inclusion throughout everything we do
- Nurturing the next generation of fashion retail talent
Why should you support us?
Founded as a public-private partnership by giants of the fashion retail sector, the Fashion Retail Academy has been revolutionising fashion education in the UK for nearly 20 years and is now part of Education For Industry Group, a registered charity. With the support of our founding partners and others, over the last two decades we have become known across the industry for creating work-ready graduates.
We create opportunities
94% of the Fashion Retail Academy’s FE graduates were in work or education 12 months after completing their course with us – 11.4% higher than the national average
We believe in education for all
In 2023/24, we supported more than 200 students with an average bursary award of £774 to help them achieve their dream of studying at the FRA
We’re growing every year
The Fashion Retail Academy started with just 50 students in 2005; by 2028 we aim to be educating more than 5,000 learners annually
What kind of support can you offer?
Opportunities to support us can range from one-off donations of excess stock and materials to funding bursaries to ensure no student is at a disadvantage.
Our campus
In autumn 2024, we opened the doors to a new, bigger campus for the Fashion Retail Academy at Electra House, Moorgate. Double the size of our previous campus, Electra House underwent a £50m renovation to provide 90,000 sq ft of educational space, including a new library, 6 lecture theatres, 26 classrooms and dedicated fashion design and photography studios.
While we successfully completed much of the renovation project in time for the start of the 2024/25 academic year, we are seeking funding to finish, equip and maintain these purpose-designed spaces.
Student bursaries
The Fashion Retail Academy operates an open and non-selective admissions policy and is committed to providing resources and support for those who would otherwise be unable to study with us. We believe personal circumstances should not affect an individual’s opportunity to follow their passions, develop their skills and achieve their ambitions.
Being based in central London with students required to attend college for two full days each week, the cost of travelling to and from the FRA alone can mean some students would struggle to accept their place. Our FE (aged 16+) bursary programme aids with travel and living costs that would prevent young people from accessing education.
Donations of equipment and materials
We welcome donations from businesses that will help support our students with their learning. This could include deadstock fabric and trimmings for design students, or past-season samples and mannequins to use in visual merchandising classes.
We cannot always accept all offers, but if you are interested in making a donation of equipment or materials to us, please get in touch so we can let you know.
How can you become a supporter?
Supporting us as a business
We welcome support from businesses across our core industry sectors and beyond.
In return, we offer a number of benefits and recognition, which could include:
- A credit on our website(s) as a supporter and mentions on our social media channels
- First access to our high-calibre graduates and the ability to advertise your vacancies
- Access to a body of over 3,000 Gen Z consumers for focus groups and feedback
- Updates on the impact of your support to use in your communications and social impact analysis
Supporting us as an individual, family or trust
We are grateful for the support of individuals, families and charitable trusts, and any gift you make will go towards achieving our charitable objectives in the form of an unrestricted gift. Your support can make a particular difference to bursaries and our new campus facilities.
