Burberry to launch 'ambitious' programme to nurture new creative talent
Burberry is to launch a new "ambitious" programme to nuture and support creative talent in the UK.
Burberry Acoustic programme
Revealing the news during a conference call with investors earlier today (20 May) Burberry's chief creative and chief executive officer Christopher Bailey said the programme will build on Burberry Acoustic, the fashion brand's music series which features sessions from new musical talent.
"With nearly 70 per cent of our global team under the age of 35 it made sense for us to do something in this space," commented Bailey. "It will build on our company’s passion and my own for nurturing young talent through programmes like Burberry Acoustic and our partnership with organisations including BAFTA and the RCA."
More details are set to be released in the coming months but Bailey added that it will create opportunities for "some of the most disadvantaged young people" in the country's communities.
Revenue at Burberry grew 11 per cent to £2.5bn while retail sales rose 14 per cent for the year ending 31 March.
Bailey said the luxury brand will continue its investment into data and customer analytics to better inform decison making across the business, after seeing "early gains" since the roll out of a customer value management (CVM) programme last November.
Steve Sachs chief customer officer added that Burberry is "on a journey to build custier analytics in to the fabric of the business" and called the harnessing of consumer data the "core under-pinning of the future of retail".