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Helen Beney

Profession
Lecturer, Fashion Business courses
College
London College of Fashion
Person Type
Staff
Helen Beney

Biography

Helen is Lecturer for Fashion Business courses at LCF, across both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Here she tells us what she learns from the students and what they can learn from their time at LCF.

Interview

Tell us about your professional experience and background.

I have spent 30 years in Fashion retail working in buying and product development. I have been a buying merchandise and design director for brands in Arcadia and Otto Versand. I have worked with high street and designer labels, venture capitalists and also as a supply chain and brand positioning consultant.

What do you think your courses offer LCF students?

Our courses are focused on harnessing the creative intelligence of all our students and helping them to have specific skills and knowledge as well as curious ways of researching and working to make them wanted talent! We combine real industry insight with a strong focus on researching future scenarios. All of our units relate to current commercial practice- often involving and working with brands either for master classes or on live projects. All our students have access to our fantastic careers and student enterprise team and enjoy opportunities that that the LCF brand and reputation provides. All our undergraduate students have the opportunity for a diploma in professional practice, with a fully supported year in industry and access to international study.

What do you learn from your students?

Fearlessness….it is great to see their passion and ambition unfettered by jaded experience. They are free to imagine and what they can see for the future will inspire our industry. What inspires and excites you in terms of your area of practice? I often work with teams looking at fashion business strategy and new brand development. The creativity of our industry in both product and business management is what inspires me.

What do graduates of the course go on to do?

Our courses have a fantastic level of employment. Most student go on to work in VM, B&M and Marketing but we also have entrepreneurs and activists in the field of ethics and sustainability.

And briefly, how would you sum up the LCF experience to prospective students?

The dedicated fashion approach of LCF means that not only are the courses great with access to the highest calibre of practitioners, researches and industry contacts but the college itself offers so many extra curricular opportunities, talks and resources. It is like a micro industry; work hard, play hard and network and with a ‘little luck’ you can achieve your potential and dreams!

Links

London College of Fashion

Contact

Telephone

+44 (0)20 7514 7400

Address

105 Carpenter's Road
London

E20 2AR