UKFT’s bursary programmes support students and recent graduates in accessing high-quality, paid industry experience in the UK fashion and textile sector. Our mission is to remove financial barriers, widen access and help emerging talent thrive in production, design, sourcing and craftsmanship roles.
Internships provide invaluable experience and insight into professional practice, but unpaid placements can exclude talented students who cannot afford to work without compensation.
UKFT’s bursary schemes, supported by industry livery companies and partners, provide financial support and structured experience to broaden access and build confidence in future careers.
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New Talent Bursary
The New Talent Bursary removes financial barriers so students studying fashion and textiles can undertake paid internships with UK employers. Supported by generous contributions from The Haberdashers’ Company, the scheme provides monthly financial support and mentoring to help recipients make the most of their placements.
Benefits:
- Financial support — £600 per month for up to three months to help cover living costs.
- Mentoring and networking — Support from industry professionals to guide development.
- Broadened access — Designed for UK-based students in their second or sandwich year who might otherwise be unable to undertake internships.
Eligibility criteria
- UK resident and enrolled in a relevant fashion or textiles programme.
- Studying in the second or sandwich year of undergraduate design or technical courses.
Contact the Skills & Training team
MADE IT: production and sourcing experience
UKFT’s MADE IT programme enriches students’ understanding of manufacturing, production and sourcing while offering paid internships embedded in UK production environments. Delivered in partnership with key industry supporters, MADE IT combines expert masterclasses with real-world placements to enhance graduates’ practical skills and insight into the supply chain.
What MADE IT offers
- Production and sourcing masterclasses — Industry-led sessions that deepen understanding of manufacturing and global supply dynamics.
- Paid production internships — Eight-week, paid placements with UK fashion and textile manufacturers to give students hands-on experience.
- Industry connections — Exposure to professional environments and networks that support career development.
Contact the Skills & Training team
“The MADE IT experience made me so much more aware of how the industry works and the information you need to know and deliver to come out with the product that you want. It makes you realise how every step of the process is extremely important and anything that is compromised affects the whole process and the end result.”
‘’I look forward to the next steps in my career and will always carry the quiet confidence that my time at Standing Ground instilled in me; like stitches in a garment: unseen yet lasting.’’
“Understanding this process not only helps the designer design a better garment that is both commercial and possible to manufacture efficiently, but it helps push the boundaries of traditional manufacturing too, bringing new ideas to the forefront and allowing greater development.”
’I was able to see first-hand how a business is run with a small team. I learnt that each team member is valuable and provides specific tools to keep the machine running. Peagreen was a perfect example of this as they have been a business for 30 years and are a very strong unit. They communicate and assist one another which enables the company to continue through adversities.’’
The programmes are open to universities, who will be asked to put forward the student who they feel will most benefit from the internship opportunity. We cannot accept applications directly from students. Universities must be Education Partners to be included in the programme.
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