Walpole, the industry body for the UK luxury sector, has announced its Brands of Tomorrow for 2020. Now in its 13th year, the programme was established to support and develop British luxury brands by providing them with access to a host of mentors who can help them to grow their business in a sustainable fashion.

The 12 selected brands are given access to a series of practical business development workshops. They are also connected with key leadership figures within the UK luxury sector and experts from legal, financial, marketing and creative professions, who will share their knowledge and experience with the brands over a 12-month period.

Helen Brocklebank, CEO of Walpole, said: ‘British luxury has always been driven by its creative entrepreneurs and founders, and Walpole’s Brands of Tomorrow is designed to help give early-stage luxury brands the best chance of success as they build their growth.’

Since its inception, more than 110 brands have completed the Brands of Tomorrow programme, with nearly 95 per cent still trading, making it one of the most successful early-stage business incubator schemes. Brands who have graduated from the programme include Orlebar Brown (leisurewear), Bremont (watchmaking), Nyetimber (English sparkling wine), Emilia Wickstead (womenswear designer), Charlotte Olympia (footwear) and Miller Harris (perfume).

Brands of Tomorrow’s chairman, Balthazar Fabricius commented: ‘Starting a business is hard – producing goods and services of quality is even harder. Passion, vision, energy and daring to risk are some of the rare commodities that fuel this epic endeavour. Along with Helen and deputy chair, Chris, I am incredibly excited to begin the 12-month programme of advice, insights, contacts and unemotional objectivity to give the 2020 brands the best possible odds for long-term success.’

From bespoke textiles and endurance apparel to organic skincare, jewellery and furniture, the 12 brands selected for the programme are as varied as they are niche in their individual offerings, showing that the British luxury industry is capable of producing excellence across a wide range of categories. Discover Walpole’s Brands of Tomorrow 2020 and learn about the creativity, craftsmanship and entrepreneurship driving the next generation of British luxury.

Walpole’s Brands of Tomorrow helps aspiring British luxury companies of the future to fulfil their potential. These are brands with a turnover of under £5 million that will pioneer growth, export goods and services, create employment and drive innovation in luxury in the coming decades. Founded in 2007, Walpole’s Brands of Tomorrow has helped develop and nurture more than 100 emerging luxury brands through a 12-month programme of networking and mentorship, and proudly seen them become leaders in their respective fields; thewalpole.co.uk/programmes/brands-of-tomorrow