June Sarpong Announces Apprenticeship Vacancies With Fashion Enter

23rd November 2016

On 23^rd November June Sarpong’s apprentices attended the launch of Ldny’s new ‘Dress to Invest’ women’s workwear at the London Stock Exchange. To celebrate National Equal Pay Day Lydn partnered with Seedrs to launch the collection ethically produced in the Fashion Studio.

At 07.45am Samina, Theodora, Emily, Andrew and Tehia all joined June to participate in the LSE Opening Bell Ringing Ceremony

Jenny Holloway commented: ‘We wish June, her team and her fabulous five apprentices a great launch today. I believe this is a first for The London Stock Exchange! I don’t know how June does it…but never stop June!’

Emily also commented: ‘Thank you for another great experience, so many inspiring people there!’

30^th September 2016

June Sarpong launches Ldny at Best of Britannia.

Andrew, Samina, Theodora, Emily and Tehia Rae on stage with June following the Ldny catwalk show

From 30^th September –2^nd October Best of Britannia took place at Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square. Fashion Enter showcased at the three day event demonstrating the garment life cycle with live demonstrations on the industrial sewing machines. Click here to learn more about Fashion Enter at Best of Britannina.

On the opening day June Sarpong’s five apprentices attended BoB for an opportunity not to be missed by assisting back stage at the VIP catwalk show. June launched her Ldny collection produced in the Fashion Studio alongside the orange dresses supporting the United Nations trust campaign #orangedress!

The catwalk show featured inspirational, empowering and influential women including Kelly Hoppen MBE, Sophie Walker and Chloe Macintosh to name a few.

Andrew, Emily, Tashana, Samina and Tehia Rae were all hands to the deck as they assisted with the last minute preparations before the models took to the stage. The experience hopefully gave the upcoming apprentices a taster for what’s to come as June Sarpong’s first cohort of apprentices set to commence in March 2017. 

 

Monday 19th September

On 19^th September June Sarpong introduced her five apprentices to the Minister of Culture the Rt Hon Matt Hancock to discuss the importance of work based learning. 

Matt Hancock was recently appointed Minister of State responsible for digital policy at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

DCMS is here to help make Britain the world’s most creative and exciting place to live, visit and do business. They protect and promote our cultural and artistic heritage and help businesses and communities to grow by investing in innovation and highlighting Britain as a fantastic place to visit. DCMS help to give the UK a unique advantage in the global race for economic success.

Priorities include:

• growing the economy
• connecting the UK
• encouraging participation
• sustaining excellence and promoting Britain
• supporting our media
• ensuring social responsibility

Matt Hancock commented: “It was excellent to welcome new June Sarpong Ldny apprentices to DCMS to discuss diversity in the creative industries.”

Jenny Holloway also commented: 

“It was just wonderful to see June’s apprentices discussing fashion and their exciting careers with Matt Hancock the Minister of Culture. The Minster was very supportive of each apprentice and inspired them to reach for their goals. Many thanks to June for being so forward thinking by providing these five young apprentices with such an amazing opportunity.”

Minister of Culture the Rt Hon Matt Hancock with June Sarpong, Jenny Holloway and Samina, Theodora, Andrew, Tehia Rae and Emily 

 Following the visit Emily said:  “I had a lovely time meeting Matthew Hancock, he gave off a very enthusiastic vibe and made everyone feel at ease. We spoke about the apprenticeship and a bit about ourselves, which he then went on to ask about which roles we would be taking part in during our time as apprentices.”

Theordora also commented: ‘I was in Further Education and I completed my masters.  I thought it would be easy to start my own range especially as I did work experience and the designer in question actually ripped off my own designs. I was so upset, so disheartened and I nearly gave up fashion completely and then I went to Fashion Enter. I regained my confidence and now I have real faith in my ability. I know I am going to be a talented designer one day but in the mean time I am so happy that I have been selected by June as her apprentice.  The meeting with DCMS gave me a real opportunity to express how importance real skills are in business today. Having a certificate for a degree is great but it doesn’t mean you get a job at the end of it. I’m very grateful for this opportunity as it was one in a million. Thank you June Sarpong and Fashion Enter!’

Friday 19^th August – Meet June’s Apprentices

We are delighted to announce the apprentices who will work for June Sarpong’s fashion label Ldny.

After months of recruitment culminating in the screening day at the Factory followed by final stage interviews it is now time to meet the team of apprentices who have been handpicked by June to assist with the design development and production process of an exclusive range of garments for the brand Ldny:

Andrew

Age 19

“This means a lot to me because in the beginning I was very worried that I would not find a starting point to begin my fashion journey and was lost. However being chosen to be one of June’s five apprentices was a surreal moment for me and one not to forget. This has taught me that anything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and I am very grateful.”

Emily

Age 21

“To be selected as one of the lucky 5 for June Sarpong’s apprentice still hasn’t sunk in yet, this is a life changing experience and I am thrilled to be a part of her new collection. Working in the design industry has always been something I have aspired to do, Maths and English aren’t my strong points but I feel comfortable and at ease in the creative world. I am so lucky to have come across this opportunity and it only takes one person to change your life and make your dreams your reality, so thank you June for believing in me and giving me this chance to shine.”

Samina

Age 19

“This apprenticeship is an opportunity for me to make something of my talents and a huge step forward in my career in the fashion industry. It really means so much as it will open up many doors and help me expand on my knowledge and skills as well as my experience.”

Theodora

Age 25

“I’m super excited to be one of five apprentice chosen, I’m looking forward to working with June learning new things and showing my talents.”

Tehia Rae

Age 19

“I am so overjoyed that I have been selected for this unique apprenticeship at this stage of my life. I have been dedicated in finding the best route to a career in Fashion. The timing feels like destiny. This opportunity will prepare me for a future that I have envisioned for myself. This is an amazing experience that I will make the most of. I look forward to learning, working hard and embracing the adventure that this opportunity will bring. Thank you.”

Take a look at Tehia disccussing the prospect of working for June Sarpong – 

Well done to everyone who got through, we are so proud and can’t wait to get started. Watch this space! 

 

Wednesday 17^th August – Final inteviews

Today we welcomed back the 11 finalists to meet with June Sarpong and CEO Jenny Holloway for a second time to determine who would land the role as Fashion Apprentice for June’s upcoming label Ldny. Each candidate was asked to prepare five reasons why they want to work for June and five reasons why June should select them and with only five minutes each to impress the pressure was on! Before the process began one of the candidates Theodora commented:

‘This is an amazing opportunity and I feel blessed to be a part of it, I feel if I was granted this opportunity it would allow me to show all my talents and I would flourish working alongside June because she’s such an inspiration. This would mean a lot to me as I’ve come such a long way since I left university and given the opportunity to work as an apprentice would be so amazing to contribute my fashion experience and everything I’ve learnt over the years.  

Fashion Enter have been great at supporting me with my dreams, when I came to Fashion Enter I was feeling very deflated and almost on the verge of giving up after getting my samples stolen but I was advised and motivated. I was given a bursary to do the Sewing Level 1 this really helped me because I learnt about fashion production how to put clothes together and after the course I now know nothing or no one is going to stop me, sometimes you just need someone to believe in your dream in order for it to live… Fashion Enter did that!’

Along with the remaining 10 candidates Theodora was given exactly five minutes to shine and prove to June and Jenny why she should be chosen as one of the five Fashion Apprentices for Ldny. 

 The hopeful 11 waited patiently whilst each person took their turn to impress. With a strict time limit some candidates flourished and gushed with admiration for June’s achievements and expressed their enthusiasm and dedication if they were to be selected whilst others seemed to struggle and buckled under the pressurised situation. Overall however June was impressed with the standard and even commented that some of these young kids would change the negative perception of youth culture in an instant!

    

The interviews

Reflecting on the whole experience we spoke to the finalists and asked what they had learnt. Emily said ‘the experience of a group interview was new and I’ve learnt not to give up on something I love and enjoy doing’

Samina commented ‘I’ve learnt not to be nervous and just go for the opportunity that’s in front of you’

Olivia said ‘As the process was filmed I have learnt to speak comfortably in front of the camera. It was a really exciting experience’  

Andrew learnt ‘to be more confident and I realised how passionate I am to be in the fashion industry.’

Jenny and June deliberating who should go through

Well done to everyone. The final five will be announced very soon!

Monday 15th August 2016 – The Screening Day

On Monday 15th August June Sarpong and Fashion Enter held a screening day for applicants that had applied for Ldny’s apprenticeship vacancy.  Hundreds of hopeful candidates applied for the role of Fashion Apprentice and 50 were selected to take through to the first stage interviews with June and CEO Fashion Enter Jenny Holloway. The process began with Jenny inspiring the group and encouraging them to just ‘make it happen’! June then spoke openly and candidly about her journey, the label and the fantastic opportunities ahead. Inspired and ready to impress the group were split into groups of five and with just a few minutes each to shine interviews commenced.

Whilst interviews took place in the glass room, those waiting to be seen were provided with a tour of The Factory, Fashion Studio and Fashion Technology Academy. Many had not seen inside a garment manufacturer before and were surprised at how bright and clean The Factory was. They were also able to see where the training takes place for the apprenticeship programme and how this is linked to a live factory environment. 

Jenny and June interviewing candidates

Following the interviews June was clearly impressed and said each and every person brought something to the table and if she could she would hire everyone!

On the success of the screening day Jenny Holloway said:

Good luck to the successful 11 candidates! We can’t wait to find out who June pick’s as her first five apprentices for Ldny! 

Watch out for the screening day footage, filmed by Ray Moody and AOL!

‘A huge thank you to June and her team yesterday, Andres Ochoa Mikan and all those who attended for the interviews. Good luck to the selected 11 tomorrow.  Remember just be yourself and you will just razzle!’

Images courtesy of Claravalla

 

Friday 20th May 2016  – Apprenticeships with June are announed

Following a visit to our factory, we are excited to announce that FashionCapital will be working alongside June Sarpong MBE, television presenter and broadcaster, on a new project that requires 10 apprentices in Fashion.

June Sarpong MBE hails from North London and is the Co-Founder of WIE (Women: Inspiration & Enterprise) and owner of ethical fashion social enterprise Ldny (www.LdnyFoundation.org), a foundation that supports young people from lower income communities in London and New York develop their skills within the creative industries.

Fashion Enter is looking for enthusiastic and flexible creative livewires that have a can-do attitude and a willingness to learn to support and assist the design and development process as well as the manufacturing process of an exclusive range of garments for June, under the brand Ldny. Training will be under the direction of June and will be based in our factory in North London.

June commented: “I wanted to work with a North London business that has the same ethical stance that is so important for me.  I am looking for local men and women to work along side a new exciting project that will go live in September 2016. Fashion Enter is leading the way forward with fashion apprenticeships in the country and they are going to shortlist some candidates to work with me.”

If you think this sounds interesting and you would like to be considered for this one of a kind opportunity, submit your CV to apprenticeships@fashion-enter.com or contact Jenni via email to find out more!

For the full job description click here