Kurt Geiger has celebrated the latest graduates of its Business by Design Academy (BBD) while announcing a major expansion of the program. BBD, the brand’s fully-funded career incubator for young creatives, will become fully digitized this autumn, allowing access to talent across the UK. Additionally, the London-based in-person program will increase its intake by 50%, providing more opportunities to young people from underrepresented backgrounds.

A Milestone Graduation Event

On April 1st, the 2025 graduating class was honored at a ceremony at The Brewery, Chiswell Street. The event, led by broadcaster Clara Amfo, featured an inspiring keynote celebrating the students’ resilience and creativity. Industry figures such as Bianca Saunders, Ella Thomas, Karen Binns, the Flag Twins, and Zacharia Noble were in attendance to support the graduates.

Some of the 2025 Geiger graduates

This year, 33 graduates completed the program, following in the footsteps of the inaugural 2024 cohort, of whom 30% secured full-time roles at Kurt Geiger, while others found placements across the creative sector.

Career-Boosting Opportunities for Graduates

Several outstanding graduates were awarded work-based prizes and placements, including:

• Jennifer Peters, Mohammed Hussain, and Monique Miller – Secured full-time paid apprenticeships at Kurt Geiger in Buying, Merchandising, and Marketing while continuing their studies.

• Bill Opare, Laura Quadri, and Ben Sholongo – Recognized for entrepreneurial excellence and awarded grants to help fund their own ventures.

• Nylah Rosario James – Awarded a one-year paid internship at Kurt Geiger HQ, gaining hands-on experience in design, buying, merchandising, marketing, and PR.

Addressing Industry Barriers

Kurt Geiger launched BBD to bridge the gap for young creatives facing financial and systemic barriers to entering the industry. Recent Office for National Statistics data highlights the challenge:

• The number of 16-24-year-olds not in education, employment, or training (NEET) rose by 100,000 in the last year, reaching an 11-year high.

• The creative industry contributes £124 billion to the UK economy and employs 2.4 million people, yet only 17% of creative workers come from working-class backgrounds.

• 86% of creative internships are unpaid, making them inaccessible for many young talents.

• While 43% of young people aspire to creative careers, 42% believe it’s financially unviable.

A Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Neil Clifford, CEO of Kurt Geiger, emphasized the significance of BBD:

“Business by Design isn’t just about opening doors for creative talent – it’s about showing the industry how much it gains by embracing diversity. With the Academy expansion, we’re ensuring that talent from all backgrounds gets the access and support they deserve, while the creative sector thrives with fresh perspectives and innovation.”

With its digital expansion and increased capacity, BBD is set to empower even more young creatives and drive a more inclusive, diverse, and innovative creative industry in the UK.