hree Fashion Business & Marketing students who are graduating from the University of South Wales this week have secured their dream jobs at NEXT.
Molly Welling, Rosie Johnson and Gabriel Davies are all about to start their careers through the NEXT graduate scheme, straight after completing their studies at USW.
Molly and Rosie will be trainee buyers for the retail giant, while Gabriel will be a trainee merchandiser, based at the NEXT head office in Leicester – thanks to a successful partnership with USW’s Careers department and the Fashion team.
Molly, 21, from Pontypridd, chose the Fashion Business & Marketing course as the perfect way of combining her interest in the creative industries with her drive to go into business.
“When I was in high school I wasn’t 100% sure I even wanted to do my A-levels, as I didn’t know whether university was right for me,” she said.
“Thankfully I did, and I feel so fortunate to have found my ideal degree at USW. My mum Julie, sister Hannah and brother Ben all studied here and have gone on to have brilliant careers, so I knew I was making the right choice.”
Following a meeting NEXT last autumn, the students were offered the opportunity to visit head office for a mock assessment day with the Early Careers team, who were taking on trainee buyers and merchandisers.
The trio were put through their paces with presentations, SWOT analyses and interviews, before receiving the exciting news that they’d been selected for the scheme. Lasting 12 to 18 months, the programme is designed to provide trainees with the knowledge, skills and experience to build a long-term career with NEXT.
“The first three months will be mostly classroom-based, so we’ll be learning as much as we can about the buying and merchandising process,” said Molly.
“This will involve spending time with the wider team and being able to sit in on supplier meetings, so that we can start to predict trends and forecast what items will be the biggest sellers of each season.
“I feel so thankful to be given this opportunity before I’d even finished uni. The job market is really tough at the moment, so to get a place on the most competitive trainee schemes in the industry is just amazing.”
For Gabriel, 23, from Barry, his degree has helped develop his knowledge of the fashion industry and strengthen his skills as a visual merchandiser and entrepreneur.
“Initially, the interview process for NEXT seemed quite daunting, but everyone at head office made us feel so welcome and were really encouraging,” he said.
“All that we’ve learned during our studies has helped prepare us for these roles. I feel so fortunate to be heading straight into industry after graduating, and feel very proud looking back on my time at USW.”
The University’s Careers team, who work closely with the faculty to secure work placements and job opportunities with employers, helped prepare the students with their applications and for the assessment process. They shared feedback that NEXT had provided from previous assessments to ensure the students knew exactly what they were looking for and what the assessment day would involve.
Rosie, 26, from Ystradgynlais, added: “I chose USW because the course aligned closely with my long-term career goals – I knew it would provide the knowledge and skills needed to pursue my ambition of becoming a fashion buyer.
“Visiting the NEXT head office was an incredible experience that I’m very grateful to have had. The interview process was challenging, due to the amount of research and preparation we needed to do, but it was very rewarding and ultimately worthwhile. This opportunity was made possible through the university, and now my dream career is all the more achievable thanks to the support and guidance from USW and my tutors.”
