Brand name lured by work-ready graduates
Posted: Friday, 4th May 2012
Gianpaolo Vignali (front) with Matt, Nimet and Stephanie
CLOTHING Design Technology staff have an enviable record of linking graduates to employers, often through national competitions.
Fashion giant Next is the latest top employer to be lured to Hollings by the quality of work-ready graduates.
A competition coordinated by lecturer Gianpaolo Vignali saw a trio of undergraduates sweep the board at the Next ‘Trainee Buyer Menswear’ Final.
Matthew Stallard, Stephanie Wallace and Nimet Divarci on BSc Fashion Buying, finished first, second and third to share the £750 prize.
Exceptional
Matt and Stephanie also landed themselves a job with the company as trainee fashion buyers, with Nimet getting her foot in the door too with a stint of work experience.
Gianpaolo, programme leader in Fashion Buying and Merchandising, said: “Our students led the way from start to finish, and as a result Next will be coming back to MMU first next year.”
Chris Raw of Next Graduate Recruitment said the MMU students showed an exceptional level of fashion awareness: “Our judges said it was a very tough competition but the MMU students prospered as they really got trend and customer knowledge right for the Next Menswear Customer.
Matt, Stephanie and Nimet, along with over 100 students from four different UK universities took part in Next’s X Factor style Competition in London.
'Manchester factor'
And Gianpaolo believes the sweep of the board is due not only to expert learning and teaching but also to a ‘Manchester factor’: “Our students tend to have a real keen eye for style. Studying in one of the most dynamic cities in Europe develops their creative and analytical skills."
He added: “We are ecstatic that our students have performed so well and we are excited in developing this great relationship with Next in the future.”