Fashion District has teamed up with A New Direction at The Good Growth Hub, to launch the STEP programme for its fifth year. We are seeking fashion sector employers to join the collective of industry changemakers who can provide opportunities for young creatives aged 18-30 from east London.
STEP is a year-long shared internship programme with a mission to build collaboration between talented young Londoners and creative, cultural and tech businesses, to increase representation and enable access to careers.
Over the last five years STEP has worked with companies such as, Nicholas Daley, The Face, BBC, Bow Arts, East London Dance, UAL London College of Fashion, UCL Culture, Sadler’s Wells, V&A and Worldwide FM, to support new talent in their teams.
This year, the STEP programme is growing to support 35 placements across a wider range of sectors, including fashion and design. We will be developing a specific strand with leading fashion industry experts, nurturing the industry leaders of the future. Apart from the internship itself, the young people also receive pre-employment training, workshops and masterclasses, mentoring and take part in a peer group project.
We are seeking fashion focused employers to host either 6-month or 12-month entry-level placements from June 2022.
Placements could be offered in a range of departments and may include experience in Photography, Image Retouch, Data Analytics & Trend Forecasting, Customer Insights & Analysis, Wholesale, Buying & Merchandising, Business Development, Marketing & Sales, Finance, Coding, Web Development, UX/UI, Materials Innovation, Sustainability.
Businesses of all sizes are welcome with bursaries available for SMEs (around £3k to £6K for a 12-month role).
“Paid internship programmes are so important as they give you real world experience on the job and that’s truly priceless. You get a real feel for the company and are treated as one of the team.”
Cassandra Joseph, Former STEP Intern
Support for employers will include shared recruitment processes, advice on the development of the training placement, and advice on creating inclusive working cultures. An employer network of line managers and senior leaders will also share learning and support each other on their journey.
If your business is interested in getting involved we’d love to start a conversation with you before the end of January. We aim to confirm employer involvement, funding, and job descriptions by the end of February 2022. There is an expression of interest form here or just e-mail team@fashion-district.co.uk and we will contact you.