Industry chiefs applaud FRA’s new home
Stuart Rose headed the pack of fashion industry leaders at the official opening of Electra House, the new home of the Fashion Retail Academy (FRA) in London.
Lord Rose is the first patron of the highly-regarded vocational college. In his short and entertaining speech of welcome, he reminded about 150 guests that he had been with the academy from its inception.
The FRA was opened in 2005 with the backing of five businesses – Marks & Spencer (where Rose was at the time), Next, Arcadia, Tesco’s F&F division and financial services firm Experian. Its purpose was to produce young people who were ready for work in the fashion industry, as opposed to university graduates who had only theoretical knowledge of the business.

Lord Stuart Rose, patron of the Fashion Retail Academy and Paula Nickolds of The White Company
The FRA began with 50 students and offered just two courses - for Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications (equivalent to GCSEs and A-Levels).
This academic year the FRA has more than 3,000 students enrolled and as well as offering its original courses, its studies embrace higher and post-graduate degrees, still with the emphasis on practical, useful knowledge that will benefit employers immediately when they hire an FRA graduate. The academy boasts 95% of its graduates move straight into a job in the industry or go on to further studies.

Helen Dickinson of the British Retail Consortium and Hash Ladha of Jigsaw
FRA principal Lee Lucas said the aim was to have 5,000 students a year by 2028.
More 150 companies now work with the academy, which was established 19 years ago at 15 Gresse Street, just off Tottenham Court Road in London’s West End.
Its new home is an historic 6-floor building on Moorgate on the edge of the City of London. It was opened in 1902 as an office for the Eastern Telegraph Company, which later became Cable & Wireless. During World War II the building was part of the Foreign Office’s propaganda operations.

Eric Musgrave and Caroline Rush of the British Fashion Council
Facilities at the new campus, which is twice the size of the original building, include a library of more than 5,000 fashion books and publications, 28 multi-purpose classrooms, six lecture theatres, a fashion design wing, a photography studio, plus social and collaborative spaces including a coffee shop for students.
Among those enjoying champagne donated by Fortnum & Mason and canapés sponsored by Marks & Spencer were Chrissie Rucker, founder of The White Company, Paula Nickolds, CEO of The White Company, Hash Ladha, CEO of Jigsaw, Helen Dickinson, CEO of The British Retail Consortium, Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council, Ian McGarrigle, co-founder of World Retail Congress, ex-ASOS executives James Barron and Simon Platts, and Maurice Mullen, head of fashion at the Evening Standard.
Find out more about the FRA and its new home here.
Main image: Lord Rose cuts the ribbon at the new home of the FRA. All other images: courtesy of Eric Musgrave