Application Deadline: june 30 2014
The British Council’s Young Creative Entrepreneur (YCE) programme celebrates, supports and connects the most exciting entrepreneurs who are innovating the creative and cultural industries around the world.
British Council is looking for people running great fashion and design businesses, who know that the ability to manage production and get product to market is just as important as fantastic design skills. They are looking for people who are using interesting materials, resources and business models to develop amazing products or to get other people’s products to the marketplace; people who are engaging with cultural and social issues and people who understand the power of collaboration.
This is not an opportunity for designers – we are looking for people who are running fashion and design led businesses.
Country winners will participate in a shared tour of the UK’s fashion and design sector.
The programme allows the winners to gain unique access to and insights into the UK industry, as well as providing a fantastic opportunity to make a wide range of business contacts that will act as a springboard for future business/collaborations between the UK and internationally. The tour will run from 13 – 19 September 2014 while London plays host to London Fashion week and London Design week.
The programme will include:
- A curated tour of the Fashion and Design industry in London
- Access to London Design Festival
- Attendance at 100% Design
- Curated group meetings to give an overview of what’s happening in the UK Fashion and Design industry
- Peer networking with the international participants and UK young Fashion and Design entrepreneurs
- Access to and master classes with UK industry figures
- Time for individual business meetings
- Opportunities to network and make business contacts
Sector Definition:
YCE Design and Fashion participants can be drawn from any of the following areas:
- Architecture, interiors and environment
- Product design manufacture: furniture, industrial products and craft
- Design promotion: exhibitions, events, festivals and retail
- Consultants providing specialist services in any of the areas outlined
- Fashion, textile, accessories or perfume design and production
- Fashion promotion: shows, exhibitions, festivals, events
- Fashion retail: buying, merchandising
- Fashion product research, sourcing, supply chain management
- Fashion marketing, PR, branding, journalism
- Fashion publishing, communications, websites
- Consultants providing specialist services in any of the areas outlined
Eligibility criteria:
Applicants must:
- Be between the ages of 20 – 35 year
- Own or be the driving force behind a young business in the fashion OR design sector with at least 2 years’ experience and no more than 7 years in business.
- Be entrepreneurial and have shown their ability in the promotion of that creative sector in their country, in either a commercial context, public context, or both
- Through their character, drive and abilities, demonstrate their potential to be a future leader of the sector in their country and a future partner for the UK
- Have English language skills to IELTS 6 – ‘competent user’ or above
- N/B the entire UK tour will be conducted in English so a high competency in the language is essential
The award selection will be made by the British Council and in consultation with sector experts.
What is required from the winner?
- Be available to take part in an industry tour in the UK from 12 – 20 September 2014
- Send all agreed marketing information (biog, photo etc.) during application process so that the British Council can promote the winner and in the UK when the winner is announced
- Actively participate in all arranged meetings and events during the programme, in particular:
- Give a presentation (5 min) about their work
- Be willing to participate in any events/receptions/panel discussions, as appropriate, alongside other UK/international industry speakers (topics would be dependent on programming by partner events and the experience/relevance of YCE participants)
- Be open minded and actively looking for future collaboration and business with UK companies, organisations and individuals that they meet
- Record their trip to the UK for use by British Council in country/UK e.g. blog, film, participate in media interviews before, during and after the trip, participate in evaluation etc
- Take part in events when they return to share their UK experience with a wider YCE network at home
- Be part of the BC’s international YCE network, which has around 3,000 members, and be keen to contribute ideas and feedback, participate in events, and develop projects
TO APPLY VISIT: https://www.research.net/s/YCEFashionDesignAward
