The British Fashion Council (BFC) is set to undergo a high-gloss makeover this year to establish a more global audience. Formerly dubbed British Fashion Awards, The Fashion Awards this year is a collaborative effort with Swarovski and takes place on December 5, this year at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Besides honoring British talent, international talent from both the creative and business sides of the industry will also be nominated for awards.

Switching to the famed Royal Albert Hall means that the ceremony can now seat up to 3,000 people (1,000 more than The London Coliseum), thereby garnering higher ticket sales and also international television partners. Half of these seats will be available for purchase by the general public, making it a fantastic opportunity for fashion enthusiasts to also be part of this annual extravaganza.

However, BFC’s ultimate aim is to raise significant funds over the next 10 years to provide scholarships through the Education Foundation, which offers financial aid to those attending top fashion colleges.

Speaking to Business of Fashion, Dame Natalie Massenet, chairman of the BFC, said the organization hopes to create an event which aspires to be “a mix of the Academy Awards and the Met Ball, on a global scale”.