The high street is all about fashion, and Topshop is the best at fashion on the high street, due in no small part to its ultra-dedicated brand director Jane Shepherdson.

During her 18 years at the business, including the last five as brand director, Sherpherdson's zeal for Topshop has reached epic proportions - a passion now shared by most of Britain's women under 40. The Arcadia-owned retailer has driven credibility through the rest of the high street. Whereas five years ago, cheap was definitely not chic, today it is much cooler to mix bargains with Balenciaga.

In Arcadia's recent results, Topshop was the star performer, showing underlying sales up 10.6 per cent in the year to the end of August 2003, and contributing GBP70 million to the group's operating profit. Owner Philip Green told reporters at the time: "Topshop has the potential to be a world brand and my aim is to try to put it there."