10 university fashion and textile design students are undertaking paid internships at UK firms including Victoria Beckham, Chinti and Parker, Margo Selby, iinouiio and Opera North, as part of the Drapers’ x UKFT Bursary scheme.

UKFT and The Drapers’ Company are working together to support fashion and textile students across the UK to achieve good quality internships through the programme.

Financial support from The Drapers’ Company will enable ten students annually to take up internship opportunities they may otherwise struggle to afford.

UKFT will be offering mentoring, guidance, and networking opportunities to each student to ensure their internships are safe, enjoyable and valuable.

The 10 students are studying courses at UKFT Education Partners: University of Huddersfield, Nottingham Trent University and Winchester School of Art.

The internships are as follows:

• Anya Carmichael, a second year student on the BA Costume Design with Textiles course at the University of Huddersfield will intern at Opera North
• Judith Shackman, a second year student on the BA Fashion Design with Textiles course at the University of Huddersfield will intern at iinouiio
• Melissa Haram, a second year student on the BA/Bsc Textile Practice course at the University of Huddersfield will intern at Skopos Fabrics
• Alice Boult, a second year student on the BA Textile Design course at Nottingham Trent University will intern at Hermione De Paula
• Isabella Longdon, a second year student on the BA Textile Design course at Nottingham Trent University will intern at Walt Disney
• Ellie Jones, a second year student on the BA Fashion Knitwear Design course at Nottingham Trent University will intern at Victoria Beckham
• Aiden Davey, a second year student on the BA Fashion Knitwear Design course at Nottingham Trent University will intern at Chinti and Parker
• Iona Balleny, a second year student on the BA Textile Design course at Nottingham Trent University will intern at Fiona Blakeman Studios
• Alice Daggett, a second year student on the BA Fashion Design course at Winchester School of Art will intern at The Well Worn
• Annabel Cox, a second year student on the BA Textile Design course at Winchester School of Art will intern at Margo Selby

Elliot Barlow, manufacturing and education consultant at UKFT, said: “Internships can be a good way to get first-hand industry experience and a route into a career in fashion and textiles but often these are unpaid or offer low wages, which can exclude a lot of talented creative people as they are starting out. This programme aims to open up these opportunities to a wider pool of people and make sure that the experiences are as valuable as can be.”

The bursaries are intended to benefit students who might otherwise struggle to support themselves to take up an internship away from home.

The bursary comprises of £600 per month for a maximum of three months to support living expenses.

The Textile Working Group, The Drapers’ Company, said: “The Drapers Company are delighted that UKFT are helping with our bursary programme to support fashion students through their work internships. These internships are unpaid and often some distance from home so many students find it difficult to pay for travel or rent etc. The Drapers have helped Leeds students for more than six years and we know that they find this work experience invaluable. We are delighted that with UKFT’s assistance we can extend this programme to more colleges and more students.”

Drapers’ x UKFT Bursary Programme

The programme is open to universities rather than students applying directly. Applications from all UK universities are welcome but we will prioritise working with UKFT Education Partners. Universities will be asked to put forward the student who they feel will most benefit from the internship opportunity.

For more information or if you would like your university to be involved please contact info@ukft.org.