One of Britain's wealthiest high street fashion moguls, alongside names like Philip Green and Mike Ashley - Philip Day has had his name to some of the High Street's best known retail brands.
The Dubai-based owner of the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group which operates names including Bonmarché, Ponden Home, Peacocks and Jaeger hit a rough year with Covid-19 restrictions alongside the slow decline of the High Street taking its toll.
In November, the brands went into administration amid a downturn in trading conditions.
Jeager has since been bought by Marks and Spencer, though its stores will not re-open.
Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Pondens and Bonmarché are the subject of a rescue deal. in which 246 stores will be saved by a number of investors Purepay Retail, which is controlled by Mr Day.
The businessman who famously skipped college joined Edinburgh Woolen Mill in 2001. A year later he bought the company outright when it was barely turning a profit.
Day turned it around, acquired other struggling retailers including Austin Reed and Jane Norman to expand his portfolio.
In 2012 he bought Peacocks, one of the UK's largest fashion retailers, which is still trading in administration.
According to MoneyWeek, Day officially lives in Switzerland and reportedly bought his first helicopter from Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley.
Brought up on a council estate in Lancashire, Day once observed that on leaving school (having reportedly turned down a place at university) he saw three career options, says The Sunday Times: “the mines, the army, or industry”. He chose the latter and is was reportedly worth $1.2billion according to Forbes.
