According to a latest report a number of big industry names, including Goldsmiths and Harlequin, will provide sponsorships to design graduates looking to set up their own trade.
The Business Design Centre in London will host a New Designers show where recent graduates can exhibit their work this week. The winners will gain eligibility for almost twenty awards, including many start-up grants of £1,000.
Wallpaper and fabric covering company Harlequin is set to sponsor one grant, along with livery firm Goldsmiths, which is responsible for hallmarking jewellery since 1300. The latter is also including a business course as part of its prize.
Likewise, the Weavers Worshipful Company and Clothmakers Company are looking to give away £1,000 as cash grant to an outstanding graduate in textile design along with opportunities for work placement.
Insurance and legal advice worth £1,000 is going to be awarded to a young designer to protect the designs. A £1,500 award is also up for grabs at the Business Design Centre, among many other smaller cash grants.
The exhibition is expected to run for four days this week – from Wednesday to Saturday and hopes to provide talented design students with a glimmer of hope before getting into the hostile job market.
Discussions and talks on starting new design businesses from the ground-up will be held, with Doug Richards, the former star of Dragon’s Den making a guest appearance. Fledging entrepreneurs from the design industry will also give presentations, recalling the first twelve months of their lives setting up their dream ventures. There will also be a host of other prizes, including work placements and commissions with Hallmark, Sky and Virgin Atlantic.