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

#21 库尔特·吉伯(Kurt Geiger)首席执行官:教育体系不符合其目的

Business Matters

2026-01-20

42 分钟
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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"
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  • Welcome to Big Boss Interview.

  • I'm Fliss Hannah and Will Bain is here with me and he's been delving into fashion retail through the business of Kurt Geiger.

  • What did he have to say?

  • Yes, that's right, Fliss.

  • We've got Neil Clifford, the chief exec of Kurt Geiger with us today.

  • Now, a lot of our listeners might think of Kurt Geiger as a shoe retailer,

  • high street retailer, but in recent years,

  • as you'll hear, the handbag has taken over,

  • brightly colored ones in particular, and selling like crazy in Mexico and South America.

  • That was a really interesting element of something we chatted about,

  • their international expansion that came from a chance hiring of an American employee.

  • And Neil Clifford's own story, really interesting, Fliss, as well.

  • 30 years he's been with Kurt Geiger working his way right through the company so as a result he's super passionate about opportunities for people to get started in retail to have long careers to have varied careers in retail and he says that starts with education something he didn't have much of he left school with just 1.0 level in art but they've launched their own academy within the Kurt Geiger HQ in central London as well so really interesting on creating those opportunities for younger workers to have a Well,

  • let's give it a listen then.

  • Here is Will with Neil Clifford, the CEO of Kurt Geiger.

  • Neil Clifford, thanks so much for being with us on the Big Boss interview.

  • Oh, I'm pleased to be here, although slightly nervous.

  • Well, no need to be nervous.