Describe your business in 3 words
Innovation, Responsibility, Community
About the business
We are an inclusive brand built by individuals from all backgrounds, and we encourage everyone to be their authentic selves.
What started out as a small company selling polo shirts to tennis players in 1952 has grown into a global brand inspired by music- our “subculture” – and the street.
Whilst the range has expanded to include apparel, footwear and accessories for men, women and children, the polo shirt remains at the core of what we do. That shirt, the shirt, would transcend sportswear to streetwear on the backs of generation after generation of British youth subcultures. The shirt is the start and end of everything we do, because it’s more than a shirt – it’s a rite of passage, it’s the uniform of the non-uniform. A true icon.
Triple Wimbledon champion Fred Perry was born to a cotton spinner. He played and fought his way through, always with style and despite the establishment.
Always at the heart of the brand is the Laurel Wreath – our symbol of success and excellence across all that we do.
Why is diversity and inclusion important to your company?
We aim to build an even better Fred Perry community, a global company that we can all be proud of. One that acts with kindness and responsibility.
Our commitment to Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion is paramount. We aim to Develop, Empower and Inspire our employees, reinforcing our mission, purpose and values of building an iconic brand. Our commitment to empowerment goes beyond inclusion; it’s about recognising and harnessing the full spectrum of talent within our organisation. We will prioritise creating an environment where every individual feels valued and respected, regardless of background or identity.
We believe in the power of collaboration and continuous learning, leveraging the diverse skills and knowledge of our employees to foster innovation and growth.
Leadership accountability is foundational to our mission, ensuring that our leaders are not only equipped but also committed to leading by example. At Fred Perry, we firmly believe that true leadership is synonymous with kindness, inclusion, and respect.
What is the culture that you foster within your company?
Our priority is everyone’s health, physical and mental. We promote a healthy work-life balance through our flexible working hours, EAP and the option to work remotely. We have extended our maternity and paternity leave, which was suggested by our internal team members.
Over the last 3 years we have introduced and will continue to celebrate well-being week. A week whereby all team members can take part in a variety of activities which will promote mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. Activities such as, Chair Massages, Yoga Sessions, Fruit and Hampers sent to our shops and Global meaningfulness hour.
In 2020 we established a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion sub-group. This is a safe space consisting of an elected council of Fred Perry team members that promote an open discussion around D, E and I and act as a sounding board on company initiatives.
How do you support personal development?
We invest in various coaching and training programmes that are aimed at upskilling our global Fred Perry team. A few programmes we have introduced recently is our CMI accredited Team Leader course, Mental Health First Aider, Fashion Minority Report – Mentor and Internship, Unconscious Bias coaching, Having Brave Conversations and ongoing personal development courses which are role specific.
At Fred Perry, we want to remove any stigma attached to talking about mental health. We have several qualified Mental Health First Aiders across our Head Office and global shop teams.
Our second group of apprentices will soon complete the Team Leader L3 programme, which helps them understand the principles of management and leadership, how to manage a team to achieve results and managing projects. They will also obtain a certificate from The Chartered Management Institute upon completion.