HIGH STYLE: UU academics Dr Karise Hutchinson and Dr Norry McBride sample the high life with Maninder Gosal, and Samia Shake, store managers from Jimmy Choo.

REPRESENTATIVES of some of the world’s leading global brands will be coming to the University of Ulster in the coming months to give a series of retailing masterclasses.

Those who have already expressed an interest in participating in the round of special lectures include celebrity footwear company, Jimmy Choo; fashion retailer Reiss; stationery firm, Filofax and the Natural History Museum.

Company representatives will address students, staff and Northern Ireland retailers in the series of lectures which run throughout the academic year.

The retailers indicated their willingness to come to the University after two academics from the School of Business, Retail and Financial Services, Dr Karise Hutchinson and Dr Norry McBride addressed a prestigious line-up of luxury retailers in London recently.

They presented the University’s research on retailing and human resource management to an audience of 40 executives from Versace, Jimmy Choo, Ralph Lauren, Bang & Olufsen and Reiss. They emphasized the importance of collaboration between the School and the private sector and the opportunities which can be gained from joint research initiatives.

Dr Hutchinson said: “As a result a number of keynote speakers from the retail sector have already given a commitment to visit the School next Spring. This is a wonderful opportunity for the University to augment and expertise and knowledge base we have built up in our department with ‘real’ management insight from key players in the UK retail industry”.

The meeting with the top retailers was arranged through Rutledge Joblink recruitment agency which has recently opened an outlet in London’s Oxford Street. Dr McBride is an Associate Director of the Northern Ireland based agency.

For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young