Achievement Community & Opportunity
03-12-2025
Newsletter 3rd December 2025
Small Business Award Winner!
We are celebrating a major achievement after being crowned Small Business of the Year at the prestigious Franco-British Business Awards (FBBA), hosted by the French Chamber of Great Britain. The awards ceremony and gala dinner took place on Thursday 27th November 2025 at Church House, Westminster, bringing together leading innovators, entrepreneurs and change-makers from across the UK and France.
FEL CEO Jenny Holloway shared heartfelt words of gratitude: “Thank you Franco British Chamber of Commerce! A huge high-five to all the amazing Fashion-Enter staff at Haringey, Islington and Leicester! You keep me going!
“Thank you to our learners, stakeholders, outgoing and incoming NED board and our suppliers too! What a wonderful network we have!”
Leicester Made and Regions – Registration Now Open
Following unprecedented national interest from fashion and textile supply chain businesses, the successful Leicester Made trade event is expanding its scope to include Regions for 2026. The rebranded event reflects the growing momentum behind quality British-made products and the increasing demand for transparent, ethical and future-focused UK manufacturing.
Taking place on 24–25 April 2026 at The Venue, De Montfort University, Leicester, the two-day showcase will unite fashion and textile manufacturers, brands, designers, educators, innovators, policymakers and consumers from across Great Britain.
Day 1 will be exclusive to trade and industry professionals, while Day 2 will open its doors to the public to celebrate British craftsmanship, creativity and innovation.
To find at more and register visit:
Friday 24th April Day 1 Industry
Saturday 25th April Day 2 Consumer
How to Work Successfully with UK Factories – Free Online Masterclass 18th December
Caroline Trend, a highly experienced Fashion Design & Product Development Consultant with over 30 years in the industry, has worked with leading high-street retailers, brands and UK manufacturers, as well as running her own micro-factory. Through her consultancy, Rosebudd Design, she supports new and emerging designers with collection development, factory-ready tech packs, sourcing, and navigating the full production process.
Passionate about strengthening UK manufacturing and helping designers avoid costly mistakes, Caroline is hosting a free online masterclass on Thursday 18th December, 10–11am, titled “New Designers: How to Work Successfully with UK Factories.”The session will guide designers on how to prepare before approaching a manufacturer and help them build the confidence and clarity needed to bring their ideas to life.
Tap here to find out more and register your place
Leicester SOS Charity Fashion Show
FTA Fashion Hub Leicester recently had the honour of attending the SOS Charity Fashion Show on 27th November, hosted by the Peepul Centre in support of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women & Girls.
The event celebrated the strength of 11 inspirational women who completed the Peepul Centre’s Resilience Programme, with several confidently taking to the runway to showcase their growth. Guests enjoyed an exclusive fashion experience featuring leading high-street brands and designerwear, creating an atmosphere of solidarity and empowerment.
FTA Leicester proudly hosted a stall, engaging with many attendees who have overcome significant challenges and continue to rebuild their confidence through the centre’s vital support. We remain committed to helping these women progress by providing skills training, qualifications and employability pathways and were especially proud to see one of our own Skills Bootcamp learners walk the runway, a shining reminder of the power of resilience, community and opportunity.
Hope Programme Launch Leicester
Yesterday, 2nd December, The Highfields Centre has officially launched the new three-year Hope Programme, designed to support young people aged 16–30 in Leicester with skills development, education, employability and creative pathways.
The initiative aims to build confidence, open doors to training and work, and offer structured support to young adults facing barriers in the community. FTA Fashion Hub Leicester was proud to attend the launch of this inspiring project, with Operational Manager Divya Kamath expressing full support and a commitment to providing referrals, promotion and volunteering opportunities for participants. We look forward to a positive and impactful partnership that brings real hope to young people in Highfields.
Free Training Places Available – Level 1 Stitching & Level 1 Pattern Cutting
Thanks to a generous donation to the Genuine Fund, we are delighted to offer six free places on each course for our upcoming Level 1 Stitching and Level 1 Pattern Cutting programmes starting 15th December 2025 at the Fashion Technology Academy, Islington.
Both courses run Monday–Thursday, with a Christmas break before returning on 5th January, and finish in late January 2026. These accredited programmes provide essential skills for anyone looking to begin a career in fashion production or garment construction. Places are first-come, first-served, so early sign-up is encouraged!
To find out more about the courses visit: https://fcfta.com/courses/
And email: education@fashion-enter.com to register
Courses Workshops and Masterclasses
Roll-on courses:
Available at all campuses Islington, Haringey and Leicester.
Diploma in Fashion Design and Business
Fashion Design:
9th, 16th 23rd & 30th January – Fashion Design for Beginners – FC Designer Workspace – £180 + eventbrite fee
Pattern Cutting:
24th Jan – Creative Pattern Cutting: Skirt Adaption – FC Designer Workspace – £45 + eventbrite fee
Corset Making:
13th December – Saturday Introduction to Corset Making – FC Designer Workspace – £45 + eventbrite fee
Fashion Illustration:
6th December – 1-Day Fashion Illustration for Beginners Saturday Class – FC Designer Workspace – £45 + eventbrite fee
Repair & Upcycling:
16th December – Free Repair and Upcycling Drop-In – FC Designer Collective shop – free
For all course enquiries contact: education@fashion-enter.com or call 0208 809 3311
Free Business Masterclass Online:
18th December – New Designers: How to Work Successfully with UK Factories – 1 hour free masterclass via Zoom
This Week on FashionCapital…
Small Business Saturday 6th December: Celebrating the Nation’s Favourite Independents
And Finally…A Tribute to Hervé Andrieu
The FEL team were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hervé Andrieu, CEO of VetiGraph UK. Hervé had been part of VetiGraph since its inception, travelling thousands of miles worldwide to implement CAD/CAM and PLM solutions in his roles as Business Development Executive and Export Manager. After establishing VetiGraph UK in 2006, he and his team successfully introduced cutting-edge digital solutions across Britain, earning a reputation as true innovators and industry disruptors.
FEL CEO Jenny shared her tribute: “I have worked with Hervé for nearly 15 years, and he was absolutely unique in every way. A strong advocate for British manufacturing, he was endlessly supportive of suppliers and always generous with his time. We often caught up personally too, and I had the pleasure of visiting his sister’s wonderful restaurant in Peru last year. Hervé was immensely proud of his family and seemed to magically balance his business and personal life. We are all devastated by his passing; he will be greatly missed. We extend our sincere condolences to his family.”
Until next time, have a great week.
From the Team at FashionCapital/Fashion-Enter Ltd
