| Fashion Retail Academy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
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Electra House, 84 Moorgate London ,EC2M 6SE United Kingdom | |
| Coordinates | 51°31′04″N0°05′18″W / 51.51774°N 0.08820°W /51.51774; -0.08820 |
| Information | |
| Type | Vocational training college |
| Motto | Home of Fashion's Next Generation |
| Established | 1 August 2005 (2005-08-01) |
| Department for Education URN | 135800Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Head teacher | Lee Lucas |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Age | 16+ |
| Enrolment | 2,000+ |
| Website | fashionretailacademy |
TheFashion Retail Academy is avocational training college in theMoorgate area of London, England.
It was founded as a National Skills Academy in 2005[1] byM&S,Next,Experian,F&F andArcadia,[2] with funding from the UK government.Philip Green, chairman of the Arcadia Group, contributed between £5 million[3]: 126 and £12 million[4]: 119 . It opened in 2006 with about 200 students, and has since taught over 12,000 students.[5]
The Fashion Retail Academy trains people to work in head office roles within thefashion industry, working with over 140 UK brands and retailers[5] to provide industry enrichment likework experience. Diploma courses run from six months to two years, and undergraduate degree courses are condensed across two years.[6] They also offer fashion and retailapprenticeships. In 2022, the Academy launched specialist online courses.[7]
In April 2017, students from the college took part in the Future Retail Challenge at the World Retail Congress in Dubai.[8][9]
Molly-Mae Hague, an English social mediainfluencer and runner-up in thefifth series of reality dating showLove Island, studied at the Fashion Retail Academy.[10] She has been the creative director of fashion brandPrettyLittleThing since 2021. In her recent book publication, she referred to her time at the academy as "probably one of the best decisions of my life. It was such an amazing two years, I had so much fun." Social media influencer and actressBel Priestley studied at the academy but later dropped out.[11]
Several alumni have also been chosen as part ofDrapers 30 Under 30 including Thom Scherdel, a buyer at The Idle Man, in 2015[12] and Alannah Gold, international digital trading manager atRiver Island, in 2022.[13]
In August 2024, the Fashion Retail Academy announced that it had appointed its first Patron,Lord Rose of Monewden.[14] Lord Rose was CEO ofMarks & Spencer, one of the Academy's founding partners, when it opened in 2005.
In 2022, the Fashion Retail Academy was awarded two Mayor’s Skills Academies Quality Marks for education provision within the Creative Sector and the Digital Sector.[15]
Launched in March 2022 by theMayor of London and theLondon Assembly, the Mayor's Skills Academies Quality Mark is an annual accreditation that identifies and recognises high-quality skills training providers in London. The Quality Mark covers six priority sectors that are considered key for London’s recovery and long-term economic growth. The Quality Mark is designed to help learners find industry-relevant skills provision across the city of London.
Fashion Retail Academy is classed as a "listed body" on the UK Government website, meaning that it cannot award degrees; students at a listed body may receive their degrees from a "recognised body", one authorised to award degrees.[16]
The Academy has a partnership withFalmouth University.[17]
In 2024, the Academy moved toElectra House in Moorgate.[18] The building was previously occupied byLondon Metropolitan University, and is currently undergoing a £21 million refurbishment.[19]
In 2015, the Fashion Retail Academy held a 10-Year Anniversary and Awards Ceremony atFreemason's Hall inConvent Garden. The event was attended by celebrities including Philip Green,Tony Blair,[20]Vernon Kay,Tess Daly,Ciara andPaloma Faith.[21]
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