Burberry Foundation awards grants to Teach First and The Careers & Enterprise Company
The Burberry Foundation has awarded grants to education charity Teach First and the government-backed Careers & Enterprise Company through a five-year partnership that will support young people in disadvantaged communities across Yorkshire and the Humber.
Burberry said the partnership will aim to inspire and prepare young people for the world of work and raise awareness amongst teachers and students of the breadth of careers available in the creative industries.
As tackling educational inequality is part of the Burberry Foundation’s new strategy, the grants will support Teach First’s partner schools across Yorkshire & Humber and fund the expansion of the Careers & Enterprise Company’s network to give around 40 schools a dedicated Enterprise Coordinator and Enterprise Adviser.
It will also develop a bespoke “creative industry toolkit” that will highlight and explain careers in the creative industries, which schools can embed into their curriculum.
The grants are also in line with Burberry Group’s new responsibility agenda which aims to support one million people in the communities that sustain the company’s business and the wider luxury industry. Yorkshire is the home of the Burberry trench coat which is manufactured in Castleford using material produced at the Burberry Mill in Keighley.
Burberry will be supporting Teach First teachers and school leadership teams in Yorkshire & Humber by holding inspiration days and development and coaching workshops. In addition, Burberry employees can volunteer to educate local young people about working in the creative industries and the company will also host school visits at its manufacturing sites in Yorkshire and head office in London.
To celebrate the launch of the new partnership, year 10 students at Dixons Trinity Academy in Bradford met with Christopher Bailey, a trustee of The Burberry Foundation and president and chief creative officer of Burberry.
Bailey said: “I am very proud that The Burberry Foundation is involved in this five-year project to support the professional development of teachers in Yorkshire and inspire, motivate and guide more students to consider a career in the creative industries. It was my art teacher who suggested I send my work to art schools, which was the start of my journey into fashion and ultimately design. It was a real pleasure and a privilege meeting with the pupils and teachers of Dixons Trinity Academy and hearing their aspirations for the future.”
