Students tailor made after Bradford firm’s donation

Imran Khan, who runs IK Collections on Westgate, Bradford, has donated blazers for students who are part of the Bradford Futures Fund, the University of Bradford scholarship which supports those who might otherwise struggle to afford to study for a degree.

The Fund supports promising home undergraduate students who are underrepresented within Higher Education through an annual scholarship of £1,500. This financial support, which comes via donors, will be guaranteed for students for the whole duration of their degree. 

Giving back 

The scholarship students will be given the chance to receive a free blazer from Mr Khan’s company. This donation of blazers, available to all recipients currently studying at the University, is aimed at boosting the employability of the students.

Mr Khan said: “I wanted to put something back into the local community. Some of the students may be disadvantaged and can’t afford to buy a blazer.

“If they are going for an interview, it will help to make them look smart. 

“It is great to be working in partnership on this with the University. I want to help look after the local community.”

Professor Shirley Congdon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford, said: “I would like to thank Mr Khan for his donation of blazers to our Bradford Futures Fund students.

“At the University of Bradford, we always welcome engagement with businesses in the district and further afield, and this is a prime example of that.

“We hope the donation of blazers also further increases the employability of our students who are part of the Bradford Futures Fund.”

Boosting employability

Philip Fisher, Senior Development Manager at the University of Bradford, said: “We are immensely grateful to Imran Khan for this generous donation, boosting the employability of recipients of the Bradford Futures Fund by helping them to present themselves for jobs while at University and beyond. 

“Made possible solely through generous donations from alumni and friends of the university, these scholarships award £1,500 a year to undergraduates facing the biggest challenges in accessing and remaining in University education.”

IK Collections has made suits or jackets for a host of high-profile names including King Charles III, Keighley-born fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, ex-Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and ITV Dancing On Ice judge Christopher Dean. 

Since the Bradford Futures Fund was launched in the 2021/22 academic year, 47 scholarships have been awarded, including 26 awards last year. In the 2024/25 academic year, the University will award more scholarships through the Fund than ever before.