NEWS
BFA Chief Exec, Lucy Reece-Raybould, steps down T
he British Footwear Association (BFA) has announced that its
Chief Executive Officer, Lucy Reece-Raybould, has left the organisation.
She joined in 2019 and helped to significantly grow the membership during her tenure. In a statement issued by the BFA this week, it said that Ms Reece-Raybould had been instrumental in raising the profile of the footwear industry at government level, and supporting partners through the challenges of recent years presented by Brexit and the COVID pandemic. Before starting at the BFA, she previously worked at the Company
of Master Jewellers since 2010. Ms Reece-Raybould said: “We’ve undertaken an incredible journey together as a sector and I want to express my appreciation for the friendships and connections forged during my time at the BFA.” Adding to that, Chair of the BFA, Jane Wilson, said: “On behalf of all our members and partners I would like to thank Lucy for her work with the BFA. She leaves it in a strong position with an engaged membership and active schedule of events. I’m sure they will join me in wishing Lucy every success in the future.”
The BFA has an exciting year planned in 2024 with a programme
of webinars, events and the much- anticipated Sustainability Summit, which returns on 17 April. Read more about this on page 8.
Ms Wilson and the BFA Board will oversee the CEO responsibilities while the search for a replacement takes place.
Heavenly Feet pledges annual donation to workwear charity Smart Works N
ational footwear brand Heavenly Feet has made a donation of 25 pairs of shoes, including boots from Weston and Lombardy, to national charity Smart Works’ Leeds branch, to mark the start of its annual donation to the charity.
Smart Works, a charity known for its work with women across the UK who are searching for work, trains job seekers in interview tactics as well as offering a full wardrobe service to ensure the interviewee has everything they need to succeed. Paul Donnelly, of Heavenly Feet, said: “We are honoured to be able to offer these shoes to Smart Works, a charity that does so much good in the Leeds region and nationally. “Supporting women in returning to work or finding new employment is extremely important and we are in awe of the incredible work of Smart
4 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • FEBRUARY 2024
with plans for new centres also in the pipeline. Heavenly Feet has pledged to make direct donations to these regional centres annually.
Works Leeds. We’re looking forward to continuing our support for the charity across different regions in years to come.” In 2023, the Leeds branch supported over 700 women in successfully applying and interviewing for jobs, in sectors
from customer services to healthcare, administration, manufacturing, HR and more. Smart Works operates in regions across the UK, including London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birmingham, Newcastle, Reading and Leeds,
Lottie Roberts, Outreach and Communications Lead at Smart Works Leeds, added: “We see on average 50 women a month in Leeds for interview preparation appointments, which means we need a lot of shoes to run our service. A new pair of shoes can make a huge difference to a woman’s confidence when she walks into a job interview. “The donation from Heavenly Feet empowers us to provide the best service to our clients. On the same day the donation came in, a client left in a pair of Heavenly Feet shoes, feeling ready and prepared to go get the job. This donation will make a huge difference to the Leeds centre, and future donations will make an impact across the charity.”
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