Fashion-brand icons Professor Jimmy Choo OBE, and director of accessories at Lulu Guinness, Viki
Wittering, have joined forces with Skillfast-UK, the Sector Skills Council for fashion and
textiles, to help tackle the skills issues facing the industry.
The eminent Jimmy Choo, well-known for glamorous shoes, and Lulu Guinness' Viki Wittering
will bring 'bags' of experience in the fashion industry to a new Sector Advisory Board for design,
where they will represent the views and experiences of other employers in the industry on skills.
Skillfast-UK has recently established six Sector Advisory Boards, each with a particular
focus within the fashion and textiles sector. The main objectives of the boards include: shaping
proposals for action on skills, helping to refine, revise and endorse vocational qualifications,
and providing feedback on government policy.
Viki Wittering said: "I am delighted to be one of the founding members of the Sector Advisory
Board for the design. It's very exciting to be given this opportunity to work with other
like-minded individuals and companies to work to improve the education and skills system for the
future benefit of the industry." Jimmy Choo added: "At Jimmy Choo Couture we pride ourselves in
creating the most exclusive and glamorous shoes but it doesn't mean that we are any less affected
by wider industry issues. We are pleased to be part of this group and we look forward to working
with the other board members." The Sector Advisory Boards were established by Skillfast-UK
following the Leitch Review which acknowledges the skills issues that employers have faced for some
time, and confirms that, through Sector Skills Councils, employers are now in the driving seat to
shape and deliver the changes needed.
Chief Executive of Skillfast-UK, Linda Florance says: "We are thrilled to welcome the new
board members and we look forward to working with them to make a positive difference to skills in
the sector, now and in the future. The Leitch report put Sector Skills Councils at the very centre
of educational and skills reform, which is a big challenge, but with the expertise of Jimmy, Viki
and others, we are confident we can make a real difference."
For more information about how you can become involved in the Sector Advisory Board please
contact Michelle Ritchie at Skillfast-UK 0113 23 99 620 or email:
michelle_ritchie@skillfast-uk.org
For more media information please contact Rebecca Douglas or Kate Gray at MCG PR on 0113 268
5000 or email:
Rebecca.douglas@mcgpr.co.uk
Jimmy Choo signs up to help Skillfast-UK tackle skills issues in the footwear and leather industry