Special: How to Launch a Career in Fashion Buying & Merchandising

Discover what it takes to launch a career in one of the UK’s most renowned graduate trainee schemes! 🎓 In this episode of the Life at NEXT Podcast, we sit down with Fiona and Jess from the Product Academy to explore opportunities in Buying, Merchandising, Design, and Technology. We delve into how NEXT supports trainees through a structured 12 month programme designed to help you excel, regardless of your background. Whether you are a geography graduate, a school leaver, or considering a career pivot, our academy provides the tools to build your expertise in a business that never stands still. Join us to find out how you can make an impact and push the boundaries of your career! 00:00 Intro 01:13 What is the NEXT Product Academy? (Graduate Trainee Scheme) 02:32 Meet the Team: Learning & Development Roles at NEXT 03:03 AI for Product: Transforming Efficiency in Fashion 04:44 The Purpose of the Academy: Building a Foundation of Excellence 05:53 Diversity in Recruitment: Why You Don’t Need a Fashion Degree 07:31 Fiona’s Career Story: From Store Staff to Training Manager 09:17 Beyond Process: Training Soft Skills and Resilience 11:00 Jess’s Background: Transitioning from Charity to Retail Training 12:01 Levelling the Playing Field for Design and Tech Trainees 13:00 What is a Technologist? Garment Fit, Aesthetics, and Quality 14:42 Industry Leading: Why NEXT Training is the Gold Standard 15:51 Retention and Culture: Why People Stay at NEXT for Decades 17:09 A Structured Pathway to Success: Month 1 to Promotion 18:18 The "Lightbulb Moment": What Drives a Learning Specialist? 19:18 From University Lecturer to Product Academy Manager 21:11 Training AI: Overcoming the Fear of New Technology 22:22 Innovation and Gaps: Never Standing Still in Training 23:30 Terminology and Jargon: Breaking Down Industry Barriers 25:40 Know Your Learner: Tailoring the Approach to Gen Z 26:24 The Knowledge Confidence Matrix: Tangible Growth 29:51 The Impact of AI: Freeing Up 4 Hours for Crea