Philip Day Biography

Philip Day is a famous British entrepreneur who has turned Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group into one of UK's most successful fashion brands, and one of the largest employers on the high street. The group now employs more than 23,000 people across the UK. Born to a working-class family in Greater Manchester, he grew up on a council estate where he saw how difficult it was for his parents and friends’ parents to find jobs – something that would end up guiding his future career and business strategy. He was drawn into business because of its ability to create jobs and improve people's lives. Although not much is known about his childhood, he clearly wanted to create a better life for himself and his family, and held down a number of part-time jobs while at school and is said to have done newspaper rounds as a young boy. Starting from the lowest rung of the retail ladder, he went on to become Managing Director of global fashion-brand Aquascutum, building a name for himself in the industry as someone with an uncanny ability to understand the needs of shoppers and a passion for supply chains. Known for his persistence, determination and positive attitude, he raised the money to buy high-street fashion brand Edinburgh Woollen Mill in 2002, surprising many people at the time, and successfully turned around the company through investment and opening more stores. Philip has gone on to build a profile as an expert at buying failing high-street stores, investing in them heavily, and creating new jobs at the same time. In 2012, he put £200 million of his own money on the line to acquire fashion chain Peacocks, saving 6,000 jobs, and within 5 years of ownership, the chain employed more than 12,000 people. Philip also owns Jane Norman, Austin Reed, Jaeger, Ponden Home, ProQuip, and is said to be on the lookout for more. Philip has also bucked industry consensus and recently opened up a new chain of department stores ‘Days’ in the UK, which he plans to expand over the coming years. He is also passionate about charity and, although he maintains a low profile, is a supporter of a number of cancer charities, including Cancer Research UK, and The Percy Hedley Foundation. He has also financially supported football club Carlisle United F.C. for more than 10 years and has said in the past that sport plays a hugely important role in community life. Edinburgh Woollen Mill is also the main shirt sponsor of the team. He is also passionate about the environment, and has planted more than half a million trees over the last 10 years, conducted research into the preservation and reintroduction of endangered and disappeared species through his wildlife sanctuary, and built one of the largest renewable energy Anaerobic Digesters in the world in Penrith, UK.