Applications now open for the fourth Manufacturers Mentoring Program
The Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA) is launching its Manufacturers Mentoring Program again in 2023. Starting on the 30th of October, players in the fashion and design industry will get an opportunity to apply for a program lasting several months, targeting the acquisition of business development and market skills. The call for applications offers novelties this year, too; the organisers await applications from even more fields of expertise to strengthen the domestic manufacturing base in a wider circle and realise a program incentivising professional collaboration.
One of the main strategic goals of the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency is to expand the market opportunities for experts manufacturing in fashion and design, increase their exportability, and thus enhance Hungary’s fashion and design industry position. As a response to the market needs, they realise more and more mentoring programs each year, which equip emerging talents and growing businesses that have already proven their merit with targeted business skills and market-specific knowledge.
The HFDA launched the first Manufacturers Mentoring Program in October 2020 following extensive industry research, the results of which have shown that there is a great need for programs facilitating manufacturing development and the use of advanced technologies to exploit the potential of the creative scene. The program aims to help manufacturers prevail more in the international markets after learning business development, manufacturing, and sales methodologies in the mentoring program. In response to the great successes, the business relations and partnerships created in connection with the program, and the positive feedback, the mentoring program is starting now for the fourth time.
Involving the Manufacturers Mentoring Program’s main professional partner, the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency (HEPA), and further industry professionals, the program will be realised for the fourth time, fine-tuned based on previous years’ experience and more personalised to the participants’ needs. The program is expected to last five months during which, the mentees can follow a freely chosen and flexible training plan in addition to the standardised skills blocks. Compared to previous editions, more offline presentations and practice-oriented webinars will be available, including web development, brand building, production efficiency, innovation and sustainability, and mentees will receive personalised mentoring in one-to-one consultations.
Applications are open from the 30th of October, and fashion and design industry players can both apply. The range of professions involved in the program has been expanded: in addition to men's, women's, children's and leather clothing, handbags, footwear and other clothing, proposals can be submitted in the categories of textiles, jewellery, household ceramics, concrete plaster and cement products, office furniture, other office furniture, kitchen furniture, stone working and electric lighting. This year, again, a jury consisting of the HFDA’s representative, industry professionals, and experts of the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency (HEPA) will evaluate the entries and select the mentees.
The fourth mentoring program will concentrate on enhancing the direct connection among participants, mentors, and supporting professionals, fostering professional dialogues and collective thinking to encourage new collaborations in the future.
Applicants must send the documents to the HFDA, to gyartomentorjelentkezes@hfda.hu in Hungarian, in a PDF, by the 14th of December, midnight, at the latest.
The entries will be assessed continuously and the professional jury will reach a decision on the participants within 30 days of submission. The Agency will contact the applicants within three working days and inform them about the receipt of their documents submitted via the email provided during application within five working days.
You can download the program’s call for applications at this link.
You can download the privacy notice and attachments of the tender at this link.
Deadline for applications: 14th of December, 2023, midnight.
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