The Protégé Project
At GFW help for our graduates is upper most in our minds, and in the difficult economic climate we all find ourselves in, we understand that not only will it be tough for many of our graduates to find a job, it will also be hard, at least in the short term, for many businesses to offer a long term contract to a new graduate.
Designed particularly to inspire creative business to tap into some of the outstanding talent produced by our universities, The Protégé Project is about offering short term contracts at an affordable wage. In turn the graduate brings new energy, creative thought and skills to businesses.
Our Hero Companies have all agreed to take one graduate from a member university from the 2010 event, and give them a paid position within their organisation for 6 months.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said:
“London is a centre for world class creative talent, our success built on recruiting the best people for the job. Yet in these challenging times it’s difficult for new talent to find work. The Protégé Project is a fantastic initiative from Graduate Fashion Week that gives people leaving university valuable industry experience, whilst paying them a living wage, and gives the business hiring them a jolt of energy, skills and fresh thought – vital to London’s continued success as a creative global heavyweight”.
Richard Bradbury CBE and CEO of title sponsor River Island said:
“British trained graduates in the creative sector are respected the world over and hold the most influential positions in companies throughout the globe. However, it is now more difficult than ever for graduates to find work, and with the global recession showing no signs of improvement, we wholeheartedly support GFW’s Protégé Project initiative. The scheme provides students with a valuable short-term contract, and in turn it provides some of the UK’s top brands with young, innovative design talent”.
...and a final word from the Chairman of GFW – Terry Mansfield CBE:
“I passionately believe that The Protégé Project is the way forward, and as more Hero companies come on board, the more optimistic we can be about the future of the creative industries”.