Kurt Geiger releases final 10 places on Business by Design academy after 120% rise in applications

The Kurt Geiger Kindness Foundation has opened a final release of 10 places on its free, seven‑month Business by Design academy for London residents; applications reopen on 14 August and close at 5pm on 18 August 2025, with learning starting on 9 September. The AQA Unit Award‑accredited programme — run from the company’s Farringdon HQ and combining masterclasses, paid work placements and one‑to‑one mentorship — expanded intake after a reported 120% year‑on‑year rise, and Kurt Geiger says it will launch a national online roll‑out in early 2026.

The Kurt Geiger Kindness Foundation has announced a final release of 10 places for the third cohort of its Business by Design Academy, a free, seven‑month vocational programme run from the company’s London head office in Farringdon. Applications reopen on Thursday 14 August and close at 5pm on Monday 18 August 2025, with learning scheduled to begin on Tuesday 9 September. According to the company, the course is AQA Unit Award‑accredited and designed as a practical alternative to traditional higher education for London‑based young people contemplating creative careers.
(According to the original announcement and the academy’s programme pages.)

The academy says the curriculum combines weekly masterclasses and one‑to‑one mentorship with paid work experience across departments including design, buying, digital marketing and merchandising. Participants are reportedly given practical assessment and certification on completion, and the scheme covers expenses while offering hands‑on exposure to multiple business functions. Kurt Geiger has described Business by Design as a pathway into employment rather than a conventional degree route.
(Company materials and the original report.)

Kurt Geiger told reporters it expanded places for this intake after applications rose by around 120% year‑on‑year, increasing capacity by 50% compared with the previous year and effectively doubling the final intake. The Class of 2025 comprised 33 students; the company says four of those graduates have taken up full‑time roles at Kurt Geiger and three received grants to launch their own ventures, while a number of alumni have progressed into apprenticeships or paid summer placements with the business. Independent trade reporting also notes the group intends to launch a national online platform in early 2026 to make the same curriculum and mentorship accessible beyond London.
(Company statements and reporting by industry outlets.)

The expansion is being framed against persistent socio‑economic barriers to creative careers. The academy’s publicity highlights that only a small minority of creative‑sector workers come from working‑class backgrounds, a point echoed by research bodies that say the creative economy remains more socially exclusive than many other sectors and would need roughly 250,000 additional working‑class employees to match the wider economy’s socio‑economic mix. Campaigners and researchers also draw attention to the continued prevalence of unpaid or underpaid internships in arts, media and fashion — a practice the Sutton Trust and others say favours those who can rely on family support and reduces social mobility.
(Advocacy and policy research reports.)

At the same time, the creative industries are economically significant. Government and parliamentary analyses show the sector contributed roughly £124 billion in gross value added and supported about 2.4 million jobs in the most recent official period — figures frequently cited to underline why improving access and skills should be a public‑policy priority. Yet those same publications highlight regional concentration of activity and ongoing challenges on diversity and progression.
(Official statistics and parliamentary briefing.)

Cost remains central to the argument for alternatives to degree study. Official student‑loan statistics for 2024–25 put the average loan balance for borrowers entering repayment at about £53,010, a figure campaigners and businesses point to when urging more vocational routes that do not saddle young people with large debts. Kurt Geiger’s chief executive, Neil Clifford, told the Express that “the idea that you need a degree to succeed in fashion is outdated… That’s exactly what Business by Design is about – access, experience, and real‑world support.” The company frames the programme as one element of a wider push by firms to widen opportunity.
(Official student‑finance data and company commentary published in the original report.)

While the academy’s growth and the planned digital roll‑out have been welcomed by industry commentators as welcome practical steps, independent research bodies and education charities stress that employer‑led programmes must sit alongside stronger policy measures — from enforcement on paid internships to longer‑term social mobility plans — if the sector is to address systemic exclusion at scale. Those groups argue that collective action from government, industry and education will be required to ensure talent from all backgrounds can access sustainable careers across the creative economy.
(Policy centres and research organisations; sector charities and campaigners.)

Prospective applicants should note the short window for this final round: applications reopen on 14 August and close on 18 August 2025, with the cohort starting in September. For further details, the company’s Business by Design information pages provide application guidance and contact details.
(Company announcement and programme information.)

📌 Reference Map:

Reference Map:

• Paragraph 1 – ^[1], ^[2]
• Paragraph 2 – ^[2], ^[1]
• Paragraph 3 – ^[1], ^[3], ^[2]
• Paragraph 4 – ^[1], ^[4], ^[5]
• Paragraph 5 – ^[7]
• Paragraph 6 – ^[6], ^[1]
• Paragraph 7 – ^[4], ^[5], ^[1]
• Paragraph 8 – ^[1], ^[2]

Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative is recent, with the earliest known publication date being August 9, 2025. The report mentions a surge in applications and the expansion of the Business by Design Academy, aligning with recent developments. However, similar information was reported on July 30, 2025, indicating that the core content may have been recycled. ([us.fashionnetwork.com](https://us.fashionnetwork.com/news/Kurt-geiger-expands-free-design-programme-after-130-demand-surge-plans-to-take-it-to-us%2C1753617.html?utm_source=openai)) The report includes updated data on application numbers and expansion plans, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. ([kurtgeiger.com](https://www.kurtgeiger.com/business-by-design?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score:
7

Notes:
The report includes direct quotes from Kurt Geiger’s CEO, Neil Clifford, and other company representatives. Similar quotes were used in earlier reports from April 2, 2025, and August 12, 2024, suggesting potential reuse of content. ([jo.fashionnetwork.com](https://jo.fashionnetwork.com/news/Kurt-geiger-expands-business-by-design-incubator-as-class-of-2025-graduates%2C1717142.html?utm_source=openai), [glossy.co](https://www.glossy.co/fashion/kurt-geiger-expands-academy-program-to-connect-diverse-young-talents-and-the-fashion-industry/?utm_source=openai)) The wording of the quotes varies slightly, indicating possible paraphrasing.

Source reliability

Score:
6

Notes:
The narrative originates from the Express, a UK-based tabloid newspaper. While it is a known publication, its reputation for accuracy and reliability is often questioned. The report includes information from the Kurt Geiger website, which is a primary source. ([kurtgeiger.com](https://www.kurtgeiger.com/business-by-design?utm_source=openai)) However, the Express is not considered a highly reputable source, which raises concerns about the overall reliability of the narrative.

Plausability check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative presents plausible claims about the expansion of the Business by Design Academy and the increase in applications. These claims are supported by information from the Kurt Geiger website and other reputable sources. ([kurtgeiger.com](https://www.kurtgeiger.com/business-by-design?utm_source=openai)) The report also highlights socio-economic barriers to creative careers, which is a known issue in the industry. However, the Express’s reputation for accuracy and reliability is often questioned, which raises concerns about the overall plausibility of the narrative.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary:
The narrative presents plausible claims about the expansion of the Business by Design Academy and the increase in applications. However, similar information was reported earlier, indicating potential recycling of content. The report includes quotes that have appeared in earlier material, suggesting potential reuse. The Express’s reputation for accuracy and reliability is often questioned, raising concerns about the overall reliability of the narrative. Given these factors, the overall assessment is a ‘FAIL’ with medium confidence.