Fashion and textiles students at the University of Derby are ready to battle it out for a £1,000 prize thanks to a new partnership with luxury fashion designer and manufacturer David Nieper.

The Alfreton-based fashion house, which specialises in collections of women’s clothing, nightwear and knitwear, has teamed up with the University to offer students a challenge as part of a scholarship.

The aim of the fashion design scholarship is to provide students with real-life industry experience to help them secure employment once they graduate, and showcase the benefits of designing and manufacturing in the UK.

Students have to design a four-outfit collection for the company that could be sold as a limited edition collection aimed at the working woman, aged 40 and over, for a business trip abroad.