Kurt Geiger, the £500 million premium shoes-to-bags empire, has expanded its “groundbreaking” Business by Design Academy (BBD). 

The move follows the “overwhelming success and demand in its inaugural year”. So it has launched the application process for year two, “offering a second wave of fabulous opportunities for London’s young creative talent”. 

Applications are now open and are “doubling the capacity from last year due to demand”.

BBD, based in Kurt Geiger’s Farringdon, London HQ, first opened its doors to 20 students last year. The scheme’s success, and increased funding, now means running two consecutive groups at the same time, it said. 

Kurt Geiger covers all expenses and lunches, as well as supporting participants who face other financial barriers, such as caring responsibilities. It’s funded by the retailer’s charitable arm, the Kindness Foundation, which has raised over £1.3 million by donating up to £3 for every item sold in the stores. 

Participants will spend at least one day a week at the Academy, receive one-to-one mentorship from senior executives, and have seven weeks of work experience (paid at the London Living Wage) in three chosen fields, such as design, buying, digital marketing, and merchandising.

They will graduate with an AQA unit award-accredited qualification, the chance to secure year-long paid work placements at Kurt Geiger’s HQ, “and a polished CV ready to impress the creative job market”.

Business by Design 24 runs from September 2024 to April 2025, but applicants will have to move quickly as applications are only open until 16 July.

Kurt Geiger chief executive Neil Clifford said the scheme has helps “young, creative talent who — like me — don’t have a rich mum or dad, haven’t had the chance to go to a lovely university, and don’t have contacts in the media or fashion or marketing. We want to break down the walls and open up the creative industry to all.”

Clifford added: “Our Academy is about giving that help back — making a direct impact to get young people on their career journey.”