Ravensbourne University London strengthens industry partnership with NEXT through live briefs and early careers opportunities
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Ravensbourne University London has continued to strengthen its industry engagement through an ongoing partnership with leading fashion retailer NEXT, providing students with direct exposure to careers in fashion buying, merchandising and brand management.
For the second year running, five third-year students from BA (Hons) Fashion Buying and Brand Management were invited to take part in an Early Careers Day at NEXT’s head office in Leicester. Students Abigail Bankole, Isabella Lisi, Hasti Shamkhani, Griff Morris and Elsa Chotza spent the day immersed in the world of large-scale fashion retail, exploring how teams collaborate across design, buying and commercial planning.
The visit consisted of a tour exploring the head office campus, sessions with the Women’s Swimwear and SELF design teams, a buyer and merchandiser panel discussion, alongside an interactive merchandising workshop focused on Girlswear product selection and retail decision-making.
Liberty quote
Our partnership with Ravensbourne University London has become an invaluable bridge between education and industry. Together, we are creating meaningful opportunities for students and helping them transition confidently into the working world.”
The partnership has already delivered tangible outcomes, with Fashion Buying and Brand Management alumna Lara Baio, who took part in last year’s Early Careers Day, working at NEXT as a trainee merchandiser for the last seven months.
Alongside the visit, students also worked on a live brief with SEASONS, powered by NEXT, a curated destination for designer fashion. The project challenged students to review current ranges, identify customer pain points and competitors, alongside developing strategic pitches proposing new brands, product areas and improvements. These were presented to Thomas Maher – a Ravensbourne alumni – and Alexander Francis, who both work within the business.
Hasti quote
I had such a fantastic time on our trip to NEXT’s head office in Leicester! It was really exciting to see all the different departments and get a behind-the-scenes look at how everything works – it definitely gave me a much better understanding of the industry.”
Isabella quote
The talks with trainee merchandisers and trainee buyers were incredibly useful; it was reassuring to understand what the job actually involves, hearing their own personal experiences felt authentic. It wasn’t what I expected at all – it was so much more! It gave me real confidence that my degree will be useful in the future.”
By embedding repeat industry engagement and live briefs directly into the curriculum, Ravensbourne University London ensures students graduate with the confidence, networks and real-world understanding needed to thrive in the fashion industry.
To find out more about our Fashion Buying and Brand Management course, click here.
