This International Women’s Day, we’d like to celebrate Virginia Grose, Head of Westminster School of Arts at the University of Westminster, for her role in developing a pioneering Fashion Manufacturing MA, focusing on apparel production, sourcing, and sustainability. 

Virginia has spent an extensive career has been spent in the fashion industry first as a designer, then in senior management, largely with Courtaulds Textiles.  

In 2008 she moved from the corporate world into higher education at the University of Westminster to share her experience and support student skills in the fashion supply chain.   

This transition together with her work initially through the UKFT’s work supporting small entrepreneurs and start-up brands, alongside continued professional development and post graduate study, enabled her to champion the UK fashion industry.    

The impact of her work can be seen through innovation in the University of Westminster fashion curriculum, and creation of a new suite of MA Fashion Courses which includes Fashion Business Management, Fashion Accessories, Menswear, Fashion Sustainability and Fashion Manufacturing.   

The new Fashion Manufacturing MA course, part of a unique partnership with the UKFT, is designed to address the crucial skills shortages in fashion manufacturing and the wider industry, such as sourcing and building transparent supply chains, embedding the United Nations SDGs throughout each stage of the product development process.  

Furthermore, her PhD research focuses on sustainability and preservation of craftsmanship skills in the luxury Scottish cashmere supply chain including repair and regeneration of this noble fibre. Further impact of her work can be seen through the partnerships built with specialist fashion repair organisations in the UK to provide further training to uphold these important specialist fashion industry skills at risk of disappearing. 

Virginia said:  

“In every aspect of my work, it is my continued passion for the UK fashion and textiles industry that drives me to uphold important manufacturing and fashion supply chain skills.” 

Thank you Virginia!

DISCOVER MORE INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN: IWD 25

UKFT’s focus on Skills and Training

As the Government appointed Sector Skills Body (SSB) for fashion and textiles, UKFT works to address critical skills gaps and develop industry-led solutions. We help to elevate the skills of the UK fashion and textile industry to maintain its competitive position globally. 

We bring together education and industry to respond to current and future workforce requirements. We develop new vocational and academic routes that meet the needs of business and promote careers and opportunities to the next generation. 

We help fashion and textile businesses to attract, train and retain the best. 

UKFT SKILLS & TRAINING