Lord Rose becomes first Patron of the Fashion Retail Academy

The Fashion Retail Academy is pleased to announce the appointment of Lord Rose as our first Patron. A highly respected and influential figure in the UK retail landscape, Lord Rose is the former CEO of Marks & Spencer and the current Chair of Asda and brings a wealth of experience to the role.

As we prepare to open the doors to our new campus at Electra House, near Liverpool Street, and write a new chapter in our 19-year history, this milestone appointment is a fitting link back to our earliest days. Lord Rose is a longstanding supporter of the FRA, having been at the helm of M&S when it became a founding partner of the Academy back in 2005.

Since then, we have grown from just 50 students to more than 2,000 today, and with the move to a spacious new campus and continued support from fashion retail's top names, we'll be able to offer our unique industry-led education to even more students.

Our move to the new Electra House campus this September will help us meet the growing industry demand for job-ready talent by enabling the launch of courses in new formats and subject areas to address the fashion retail industry’s most critical skills gaps.

As the FRA approaches its 20th anniversary in 2025, we hope to appoint further Patrons to work alongside Lord Rose in supporting our mission to nurture fashion's next generation. Since our founding 19 years ago, the FRA has become established as a powerhouse in fashion education, having trained over 13,000 students for entry-level roles in the industry. 89% of our students find employment or continue in education within six months of completing their course, and we collaborate with over 250 brands, ranging from well-known high street names to high-end luxury brands, to ensure our students receive industry-relevant training.

Earlier this year, we acquired the London College of Beauty Therapy, based near Oxford Circus, to expand our leading industry-focused education into a new area. At this time, both colleges became part of the new Education For Industry Group, a charity which will continue to promote and invest in sector-specific education and training led by industry experts.