David Beckham, who acts as the British Fashion Council (BFC) ambassadorial president, and Adwoa Aboah, who is the BFC ambassador for positive fashion, joined BFC chief executive Caroline Rush in unveiling its new initiative on Monday, Sept. 23 during a visit to Prendergast Vale School in Lewisham, United Kingdom.

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The program, which has been designed by the BFC alongside other fashion industry employees, will see apprentices complete a six-month stint in the fashion studio, learning about critical path management, and health and safety measures, before moving on to a further 12 months of focusing on either product development and production, sales and operations or fashion marketing and communications. An assessment will take place at the end of the 18 months that will see participants graded with fail, pass or distinction.

“Fashion is an industry that should be open to everyone — no matter what their background is or where they are from,” said Beckham in a statement. “I hope that this new apprenticeship program from the BFC will give even more kids the chance to thrive and be creative. We have such an amazing fashion industry in this country, it’s something we should really be proud of and protect.”

“I am proud to be part of an industry that has so many facets to it,” added Aboah. “The Fashion Studio Apprenticeship is proof that not every role in fashion needs an academic degree and that our industry is one that is open to everyone, no matter their background.” RGA/NVG

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