Speaking about his education at Cordwainers College, which is now part of London College of Fashion, he said his teachers had manufacturing experience and helped him hone his design skills and quality approach to shoe-making, and encouraged him to improve his English.

“I want to thank you for my UK education, for giving me an opportunity to put my name all over the world,” he told a crowd of UK stakeholders.

He soon realised “my English is not up to date”, he said, upon arrival from Malaysia. He said his teachers would say “I don’t understand what you are talking about”, but that he realised, “British people don’t mean to harm you, they like teasing”.

And speaking exclusively with The PIE News, Choo also extolled the advantages of the UK’s multiculturalism.

Next year, the awards will encompass more countries, including Brazil, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey

“Every time I come back to UK, when I come through the immigration, you can see so many different nations from different countries. Why do they want to come here? They want to come to unite,” he said.

“I feel very happy that I can come here to see all the [alumni] winners from different countries,” he added. “They have chance to exchange opinions and ideas together.”

8 of the 9 Generation UK alumni award winners. Photo: James Gifford-Mead

Choo was at a reception at the British Council HQ in London to congratulate the first cohort of Indian, US and Chinese Generation UK alumni winners. Next year, the alumni awards will encompass more countries, including Brazil, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.

Eight of this year’s nine alumni winners had the chance to visit the Prime Minister’s residence, 10 Downing Street, earlier in the day and receive a briefing on the UK’s GREAT campaign.

Awards were given to nine students for Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurial Activity and Social Impact.

• Watch Jimmy Choo talking about the UK’s tourism appeal too.