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BA (Hons) Fashion Buying and Merchandising x Next

People sat in a classroom with laptops on tables
  • Written byUna Lote Andzane
  • Published date 23 June 2025
People sat in a classroom with laptops on tables
Students were briefed by NEXT's team at the start of the unit. Image courtesy of Karla Hunter.
For 50 years, NEXT have been innovators of the British high street, making them a staple household name. To sustain this legacy, they collaborated with the BA (Hons) Fashion Buying and Merchandising course at London College of Fashion (LCF), UAL to develop a brief challenging students to produce a brand strategy for NEXT’s AW25 Menswear Tailoring range with the aim of increasing profit.

The BA (Hons) Fashion Buying and Merchandising course is for students who are passionate about fashion but driven by the business, strategic, and analytical aspects of the industry. It equips students with the skills to understand consumer behaviour, analyse market trends, and make data-informed decisions in buying and merchandising roles.

NEXT collaborated with the course to identify talent for their graduate trainee programme and invite students to visit the company headquarters. The industry led project helped students sharpen their communication, teamwork, and time management skills, while also allowing them to apply what they learned in class to a live business challenge.

People sat around a table in a room listening to a presentation.
The students learnt more about the inner workings of NEXT's business at their HQ in Leicester. Image courtesy of Katie de Ley.

The project was an exchange of the students' fresh ideas and Next’s professional experience of day to day buying and merchandising. Set up to cover both current season trading and future season planning, students were introduced to navigating the duality of their career path lying ahead.

Students worked in teams to analyse current trading data and conduct in-depth competitor research to deliver a professional trade meeting presentation.

This informed phase two of the project — planning the season ahead — where they would explore upcoming trends, fabrications, sustainability and research customer needs and wants for the year ahead.

Each student produced a visually impactful business planning report, informed by their commercial strategy and underpinned by sales plans valued at over £30+ million, showcasing their ability to translate data into compelling business propositions.

To celebrate the projects end, students and academics from the course visited Next’s headquarters and buying office in Leicester. Three exceptional students were awarded £200 cash prizes in recognition of their work.

People standing in front of a glass building and smiling to the camera.
The students visit NEXT's headquarters. Image courtesy of Katie de Ley.
The project provided students with a practical, hands-on experience that mirrors real-life buying and merchandising. It developed their skills in problem-solving, decision-making, and teamwork — all essential for successful careers in B&M. The fact that we had real data linking directly to “live” stock in the stores made this project authentic and exciting!

— Katie de Ley, Senior Lecturer in BA (Hons) Fashion Buying and Merchandising
Two people holding an award poster and standing next to a presentation screen in a meeting room.
Anjali Kamran was one of the three students who won a cash prize from NEXT. Image courtesy of Katie de Ley.

The student feedback highlighted the unit’s extensive knowledge content, enthusiastic lecturers, creative research elements, exploration of visual merchandising, and overall supportive atmosphere.

Congratulations to winners Anjali Kamran, Evelyn Hurworth, and Harry Longhurst!

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