The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced the new recipients of financial and mentoring support from the BFC Fashion Trust. Grants totalling £300,000 will be split between nine designers: David Koma, Emilia Wickstead, Holly Fulton, Marios Schwab, Mother of Pearl, palmer//harding, Prism, Sibling and Sophia Webster. The BFC also announces the Graduate Traineeship Programme which has been in pilot over the last year and is funded by donations from the Fashion Trust members. The programme offers BA and MA design graduates the opportunity to apply for a 12 month paid placement with one of London Fashion Week’s fashion designers. The structured 12 month programme ensures graduates are able to develop skills and are exposed to different elements of a design team. The development plan is split into three stages, ensuring progression within the role and business. The introduction phase includes assisting and preparing; the participation phase will crystallise the process of planning a collection and the contribution phase will see graduates explore the conception stages of a collection. In the first year, two students from the Royal College of Art were placed within the businesses of Roksanda and Erdem.

www.britishfashioncouncil.com
@BFC