#21 Kurt Geiger CEO: Education System Isn't Fit For Purpose

Britain's education system stands accused of failing to prepare young people for careers by Neil Clifford, Chief Executive of Kurt Geiger. He tells Will Bain in this episode of BBI that the current education system is "not really fit for purpose" in preparing people for life after education. His own school journey saw him leave with a single O-level in art, achieved by drawing a Dunlop Green Flash trainer that he now keeps displayed in his office. The spurred him on to create the Kurt Geiger Academy, a government-recognised educational institution built within the company's London HQ.

Clifford questions the usefulness of teaching history in school and wonders if the emphasis on mathematics - championed by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak - is wise, seeing as "we can't out mathematics India or China". Instead he says the UK should focus on sectors where it maintains global leadership, pointing to creative industries as areas where Britain would be World Champions.

Clifford describes how the company has moved from a struggling British shoe retailer into an international fashion company. The brand has undergone a dramatic shift, with American operations now generating 70% of sales from handbags rather than shoes and individual stores producing twice the profit per square foot compared to UK locations. This was a move that saved the company as he says the COVID-19 pandemic brought the company within weeks of bankruptcy, with profits collapsing from £41 million in 2019 to just £6 million.

Presenter: Will Bain

Producer: Olie D'Albertanson

Editor: Henry Jones

00:00 Fliss Hannah and Will Bain introduces the episode

01:31 Neil Clifford interview begins

02:46 Kurt Geiger's transformation from shoes to handbags

05:18 ADHD and dyslexia impact

07:52 Failed attempts at handbags and US expansion

09:30 Strategy acceleration during pandemic

11:29 Trump tariffs discussion

15:34 UK vs international growth

20:03 50% higher conversion in US stores

23:21 Russell and Bromley discussion

24:05 One O-level in art

27:26 Academy origins from COVID

29:45 Education system "not fit for purpose"

35:37 UK hasn't grown in 10 years

35:54 - Brexit: "wasted 10 years"