NET-A-PORTER has launched The Vanguard Education Fund as part of its talent incubator programme. The mentorship programme will run in partnership with the British Fashion Council (BFC) and is designed to help final-year BA students as they embark on their professional careers in the industry.

NET-A-PORTER reveals the influential mentors taking part in the fund are designers Cate Holstein, founder of Khaite, Conner Ives and Christopher John Rogers; renowned stylist Julia Sarr-Jamois; editorial and tech expert Eva Chen; business mogul, musician, and actor Jessica Jung; NET-A-PORTER’s content director Alice Casely-Hayford, and senior market editor Libby Page.

The Vanguard Education Fund will be open to final-year students studying at UK universities within the BFC Colleges Council and selected international institutions across multidisciplinary courses, from fashion and design to ceramics, fine art, photography and jewellery. Four winners will be selected and awarded a £12,500 bursary fund and paired with two leaders within the industry, who will act as mentors for the academic year.

Applications are now open until 3 March and the winners will be announced in June 2022.