Article: The Value of British Talent: Why Internships and Mentorship Matter
The Value of British Talent: Why Internships and Mentorship Matter
At Gushlow & Cole, we’ve always believed that creativity grows through community. From the very beginning, Emma and I have been passionate about opening our doors to interns, trainees, and graduates, and sharing the knowledge and skills that have shaped our brand and our way of working.
We’ve never had a formal recruitment system. Our trainees have come to us through friends, friends of friends, schools, universities, or sometimes simply by chance when we meet someone we think would thrive in our environment. What matters most to us is curiosity, a love of making, and a willingness to learn.
Our first intern, Alice, still works with us today, managing production in our Kent workshop. Bex, a business student from Oxford Brookes University, joined us as an intern, created her own marketing role, and stayed for five years before founding her own successful marketing company. Kate, who worked with us in production and sales for four years, now designs and runs her own jewellery brand in Mexico. Sophie, an intern from a fashion degree in Exeter, is now a buyer for a major beauty company. Coco, who interned with us throughout her time at Goldsmiths, has since launched her own jewellery brand inspired by natural materials and organic forms.
And Nicole, our latest intern, has recently achieved her dream job, becoming a buyer for Net A Porter. Her journey is a true example of how determination and hard work pay off. Nicole had all the drive and creativity from day one, she just needed a little helping hand and hands-on experience within the fashion industry to get started.
Seeing these talented women grow into leaders in their own right fills us with pride. Some stayed in fashion, others found new creative paths, but all continue to create, make, and inspire.
For us, mentoring isn’t just about teaching technical skills. It’s about building confidence, encouraging ideas, and showing that everything is possible. Working closely together, watching skills evolve, and creating space for creativity builds a sense of belonging and a shared purpose.
Supporting British talent goes hand in hand with our love for British manufacturing. Producing locally means keeping traditional skills alive, strengthening our supply chain, and investing in our community. Because British-made is more than a product, it’s our talent, creativity, and craftsmanship coming together. Every piece we make carries the story of the people behind it, from design to cutting table, from our workshop to your wardrobe.
Yes, it comes with challenges, we have higher costs and smaller scale but it also brings something that can’t be replicated: authenticity, quality, and community.
We’re proud to be part of a new wave of female entrepreneurship, one that values collaboration, sustainability, and creativity as equal measures of success. Many of the women we’ve mentored now lead businesses built on those same values. Their success proves that when women support women, an entire ecosystem of craft, innovation, and opportunity thrives.
At Gushlow & Cole, we’ll continue to open our doors to the next generation of makers, designers, and thinkers. Passing on skills is part of who we are. It keeps British craftsmanship alive and ensures that creativity remains at the heart of everything we do.
