Jenny Holloway, CEO of Fashion-Enter Ltd, and educational division – Fashion Technology Academy, has secured an influential new position supporting the future of London’s creative industries, following her successful appointment to the Mayor of London’s Creative Industries Talent Board.
The appointment, confirmed by Howard Dawber OBE, Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth, recognises Jenny’s extensive experience and leadership across fashion, textiles and craft, alongside her longstanding commitment to workforce development, skills training and creating more inclusive routes into employment.
The new Sector Talent Boards have been established as part of the Mayor’s Inclusive Talent Strategy, ensuring that employers have a direct voice in shaping London’s future skills and employment system. Their purpose is to bring industry expertise into decisions around talent priorities, skills provision and investment, helping businesses access the skilled workforce they need while opening up more opportunities for Londoners.
For Jenny, the appointment represents an opportunity to bring decades of hands-on experience to the table and help address some of the most pressing challenges facing the UK fashion and textiles sector. Throughout her career, Jenny has championed the importance of connecting education, practical skills and industry. Through her leadership at Fashion-Enter, she has worked to create meaningful opportunities for people to enter the fashion industry, develop their technical abilities and build sustainable careers.
Her experience spans fashion manufacturing, production, technical training, garment construction, apprenticeships, education and industry collaboration. This breadth of knowledge gives her a valuable understanding of what employers need from emerging talent, as well as the barriers that can prevent people from accessing opportunities within the sector.
At a time when fashion businesses need skilled people, practical manufacturing knowledge and a workforce equipped for an evolving industry, Jenny’s appointment provides an opportunity to ensure that these real-world requirements are represented in London’s wider talent strategy.
Crucially, talent development must go beyond simply attracting people into fashion. It must also provide the training, experience, support and progression opportunities that enable individuals to build long-term careers. This is an area where Jenny’s experience and commitment to industry-led training can make a meaningful contribution.
One of the central ambitions of the Mayor’s Inclusive Talent Strategy is to ensure that more Londoners can access, progress and thrive in good jobs. For the fashion and textiles industry, this means recognising the diverse range of skills and career opportunities available, from design and product development to pattern cutting, garment technology, manufacturing, production management and entrepreneurship.
It also means ensuring that young people, career changers and individuals from communities traditionally underrepresented in the industry can see a viable future for themselves in fashion. Jenny has consistently championed the importance of practical learning and stronger connections between employers and education providers. Her appointment offers an opportunity to bring this perspective into conversations about how London’s talent pipeline can become more accessible, relevant and responsive to industry needs.
By giving employers a stronger voice, the Sector Talent Boards aim to help bridge the gap between the skills people are learning and the skills businesses actually require. The Creative Industries Talent Board will play an important role in delivering the ambitions of the Inclusive Talent Strategy and the London Growth Plan.
Sector Talent Boards will help identify industry priorities, while pan-London Sector Hubs will support the delivery of those priorities, helping employers navigate the skills system and connect with local support. Jenny will join fellow industry leaders in helping shape this approach, ensuring that fashion, textiles and craft have a strong voice in discussions about London’s future workforce.
Commenting on her appointment, Jenny Holloway said: “I am thrilled to be appointed to the Mayor of London’s Talent Board. FEL’s educational division, Fashion Technology Academy, provides hands-on, industry-ready skills, that employers are asking for. Combining this with my extensive industry experience, is particularly significant for an industry where specialist technical skills, manufacturing knowledge and experienced practitioners are essential to its long-term sustainability.
“London has a rich fashion heritage and an internationally recognised creative identity. Ensuring that the next generation has access to the skills, training and opportunities needed to sustain and develop that reputation will be an important part of the work ahead.”