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The University and PCL established itself as one of the leading UK academic institutions offering courses and training programmes for overseas government officials and groups nominated by various ministries.

In keeping with this tradition, a unique postgraduate course in Diplomatic Studies and Practice was introduced in 1980. It attracted members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Court of St James's as well as diplomats from various Ministries for Foreign Affairs and officials from overseas government departments. The course was offered by the Diplomatic Academy of London which was an integral part of the University's School of Social and Policy Sciences [later the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Languages].

The Diplomatic Academy ran a wide range of post-experience courses and training programmes leading to the award of an MA Degree in Diplomatic Studies and MPhil/PhD by further research. Courses offered by the Diplomatic Academy of London were valued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, overseas Ministries for Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Missions in London, international and regional organisations, multinational corporations and individual students for their relevance and focus on career development.

The Diplomatic course was a blend of academic studies and professional training. The Schools of Law, Languages, Communication, Social and Policy Sciences, Economic and Business Studies and the London Management Centre contributed to the academic disciplines. The professional aspects were covered by career diplomats, journalists, lawyers, politicians and senior officials from various government departments.

c.2003 the Diplomatic Academy was considered the largest academic institution in Europe which ran a wide range of post-experience courses and training programmes. It was awarded the title of Associate Member of the London Diplomatic Association. In the 2002 QAA the University was rated as an excellent institution in the teaching of Politics (diplomacy and international relations).

c.2003 The Diplomatic Academy's MA in Diplomatic Studies was run in both London and Paris. Students attending the University of Westminster Paris Centre had the opportunity to spend one semester in London. Paris students were entitled to use all the facilities of the Faculte Libre de Droit d'Economie et de Gestion de Paris.

The Diplomatic Academy closed c.2012. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office opened their own Diplomatic Academy in 2015.

There were originally three trusts connected to the University: Regent Street Polytechnic Trust (RSPT), Quintin Hogg Trust (QHT) and the Quintin Hogg Memorial Fund (QHMF). There is also a Prizes and Scholarships Fund.
RSPT and QHT are closely linked, but their aims were different - QHT had a wider remit of education whilst RSPT leased buildings for use by the University. In 2000 proposals were made to rationalise the Trust structure and address the potentially insolvent status of QHT. The University planned initially to render RSPT dormant and continue with QHT as an active Trust, however, it would have been too costly to transfer the substantial property holdings of RSPT to QHT. Therefore, new proposals were agreed, which resulted in the governing document of RSPT being replaced with a more modern instrument and a limited company established on 21 August 2001. The following day, 22 August 2001, the names of the two charities were switched. The plan was then to render RSPT (formerly QHT) dormant by transferring its activities to QHT (formerly RSPT). This finally happened on 18 July 2007 when RSPT ceased to exist.
The name swap confuses the historical record as researchers seeking older QHT records have to remember to search under RSPT prior to 2001. Fortunately, the Trustees meetings for all the Trusts take place on the same day, twice or three times each year. From December 2001-2007, a single Agenda covered all the Trustees meetings and, although separate Minutes continue to be issued for each Trust, all the documentation is often filed together. Additionally, the Trustees are the same for all the Trusts.

The following information is taken from the Charity Commission's website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission [accessed 12/11/2020]

Regent Street Polytechnic Trust #292361

Registered with the Charity Commission 13 August 1985, this charity owned a beneficial interest in certain long leasehold properties with leases expiring between 11 Oct 2919 and 11 Oct 2933. Its charitable objects were ‘The advancement of education (and for other charitable purpose) in such manner as the Trustees may from time to time in their absolute discretion determine and in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) for such charitable purposes as they in their absolute discretion may consider to be calculated to further the work of the Polytechnic of Central London.’
It also acquired certain freehold properties. All the properties were rented to the University of Westminster for use as administrative offices, academic activities or student residences. As of 18 July 2007, this charity was removed from the Charity Commission's register as it ceased to exist. Previously called the Quintin Hogg Trust.

Quintin Hogg Trust #1010404

This charity was registered on 10 April 1992 as an educational charity, owning docklands properties (disposed of c2000). Current scheme dated 21 August 2001, amended by resolution 4 April 2017. The charitable objects are ‘Its object is the advancement of education; The Trustees may allow the land and buildings belonging to the Trust described in part 2 of the Schedule to this Scheme to continue to be appropriated either wholly or in part for use by the University of Westminster.’
Its aims are to utilise surpluses generated for investment in further premises for the provision of student accommodation for the University of Westminster and to make donations to that University for the furtherance of its work in the educational field. It also funds a number of scholarships (covering fees, living accommodation and travel) as well as other awards in the field of education.
The Trust was established by Deed on 11 April 1990 in the name The Regent Street Polytechnic Trust. On 21 August 2001, the Trustees passed a resolution and changed the name to Quintin Hogg Trust.
Since 4 April 2017, QHT has been administered by the Quintin Hogg Trustee Company (QHTC), a company limited by guarantee, registered at Companies House (#10281253). The former trustees of QHT are members/directors of QHTC.
Previously called the Regent Street Polytechnic Trust.

Quintin Hogg Memorial Trust #288144

This charity was registered on 20 December 1983. Current scheme dated 30 Sept 1991, amended by Schemes dated 29 April 2002, 3 April 2014 and by resolution 4 April 2017. The charitable objects are ‘to promote the education of the students of the Polytechnic of Central London by the provision of facilities for their recreation and such other facilities for the advancement of every aspect of their education and subject thereto, the education of other young persons as the Trustees think fit.’
The 1991 Scheme combines four original Charities which were regulated under declarations of Trust dated 14 December 1904, 9 March 1905, 16 June 1925 and 22 November 1935.
The Trust owns land and buildings at Chiswick which are used as a sports venue primarily for the University of Westminster and its students. The Trust charges the University a rent for the use of its assets.

University of Westminster Prizes and Scholarships Fund #1010405

This charity was registered on 10 April 1992. Current scheme dated 21 August 2001, amended 28 November 2007. Its object is the advancement of education by the awarding of prizes and scholarships tenable at the University of Westminster. The Trust achieves its object by raising income through investments and donations.

Chester Perry 1971–8
C.P. Company 1978–present
C.P. Company was founded in 1971 in Bologna, by designer Massimo Osti (1944–2005). The brand was originally called Chester Perry, but following legal action by Chester Barrie and Fred Perry, the name was changed to C.P. Company in 1978. In 1981 Trabaldo Togna Holding SpA (an Italian fabric manufacturer) acquired 50 per cent of C.P. Company SpA from Raimondo Cattabriga. In 1983, Massimo Osti sold the remaining 50 per cent of the company to San Benedetto del Tronto–based Italiana Manifatture. Gruppo Finanziario Tessile (GFT) acquired the shares of Italiana Manifatture and Trabaldo Togna Holding SpA in 1983, achieving 100 per cent ownership of the company. Carlo Rivetti left GFT in 1992, founding Sportswear Company SpA with his sister Cristina Rivetti. In 1993, Sportswear Company SpA acquired the Stone Island, Boneville and C.P. Company brands. The company’s early design philosophy was centred on garment dyeing, which is the process of applying colour to garments after they are created, frequently combining natural and synthetic textiles to achieve a variety of results. In 1987, C.P. Company developed the capability to coat the inside of cloth with a porous rubber coating, which resulted in the invention of Rubber Wool and Rubber Flax. Research into protective hoods resulted in the Explorer jacket and the Mille Miglia jacket in 1988. Both designs incorporated lenses into the garment’s hood or collar, allowing the wearer to see through them.

In 1991 they launched a range called Continuative Garments that saw the same garments being released each season, with only minor changes to the colour and fabrication. Massimo Osti resigned as creative director in 1994, and Romeo Gigli (b. 1949) took over, designing menswear and launching a womenswear line. In 1997, Moreno Ferrari (b. 1952) succeeded Gigli as creative director. Ferrari designed the Urban Protection range which launched in 1997 and was developed each season until Autumn Winter 2001. The outerwear garments featured built-in technology, including torches, headphones, personal alarms and pollution detectors. Ferrari also designed the Transformables range for Spring Summer 2000 that included several inflatable or transforming garments, such as a coat that turned into a hammock, a jacket that inflated into a chair, and a coat that turned into a kite.

In 2000 Alessandro Pungetti was announced as the company’s new creative director; he remained in this role until 2009 when Wallace Faulds (b. 1979) was appointed by Carlo Rivetti as the new head of design. C.P. Company was sold by Sportswear Company SpA to FGF Industry SpA in 2010. Alessandro Pungetti was reappointed as joint creative director alongside Paul Harvey in 2012. In 2015 FGF Industry SpA sold the company to Tristate Holdings Ltd.
In 2019, the son of Massimo Osti, Lorenzo Osti, was appointed president of C.P. Company. The brand’s flagship store opened in Milan in 2019, followed by new retail locations in Amsterdam in September 2020, Riccione in June 2021 and London in 2022.
Sources: Lodovico Pignatti Moreno, ed., C.P. Company 971-021: An Informal History of Italian Sportswear (London: IDEA, 2021); Italian Collection; WWD.

Façonnable was founded in Nice, France by tailor Jean Goldberg in 1950. He retired in 1961 and the business was taken over by his son Albert Goldberg who renamed the company 'Façonnable', based on the word 'façonner' meaning 'to shape'. He also shifted the business into men's ready-to-wear.

They opened stores across the French Riviera and in the 1970s began collaborating with American brands such as Sebago, Alden and Van's. They opened their first store in the United States in New York in 1993 and in 2001 were bought by Nordstrom, the US retailer. Façonnable was acquired by the Lebanon-based company M1 Group in 2007.

Carol Christian Poell was founded by Carol Christian Poell (b. 1966) and Sergio Simone in 1994 following Poell’s graduation from the postgraduate design course at Domus Academy in Milan. Poell set up C.C.P. Srl to serve as the production and distribution company for his label. He released a small capsule collection for Autumn Winter 1994 consisting of a pair of trousers, a jacket, a shirt and a T-shirt, followed by his first full collection the following season. In 1999 he started a womenswear collection. Poell’s use of leather throughout his career has been influenced by his family’s lengthy experience in the tannery and leather industry. This has resulted in his adventurous and experimental methods of cutting and assembling his clothes, as well as a rethinking of the basic construction language. Poell’s investigation into the transformation of dead animal skin into garments has informed his choice of venues to show his collections which have included a slaughterhouse, a morgue and Milan’s Naviglio Grande canal, where models’ apparently lifeless bodies floated downstream past the invited fashion guests and the public. Poell continued to explore this fascination in his Autumn Winter 2001 video presentation, ‘Public Freedom’, by locking models inside the cages of a Milan municipal dog pound.

Sources: Grailed.com; Terry Jones and Susie Rushton, eds, Fashion Now 2: i-D Selects 160 of Its Favourite Fashion Designers from Around the World (Cologne: Taschen, 2008); New Yorker; U-Wire.