Awards
The Heritage Crafts awards
AWARDS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR NOMINATIONS.
WE WILL REOPEN ON 2 MARCH WITH A DEADLINE IN MID AUGUST 2026.
Heritage Crafts set up the prestigious Heritage Crafts Awards in 2012. We are indebted to our partner organisations for providing funding to allow us to present a unique suite of awards and bursaries specifically for traditional crafts. We are so grateful for this generous support.
The Heritage Crafts Awards celebrate and highlight the traditional living crafts made in the UK that contribute to our national heritage, such as silversmithing, leatherworking, dressmaking and tailoring, upholstery, weaving, embroidery and similar other crafts where there is a significant degree of hand skill at the point of manufacture.
- Patron’s Award for Endangered Crafts
- Maker of the Year (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and UK)
- Precious Metalworker of the Year
- Fashion Textile Maker of the Year
- Emerging Leatherworker of the Year
- Emerging Weaver of the Year
- Emerging Upholsterer of the Year
- Emerging Embroiderer of the Year
- Emerging Metalworker of the Year
- Trainer of the Year
- Trainee of the Year
- Community Catalyst of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Environmental Sustainability Award
There 2026 Awards categories are yet to be announced.
Before applying, we encourage you to take time to read the full FAQs:
- Awards FAQ
- Application questions for reference – coming soon
- Join our Live Q&A Session on grants, awards and bursaries on Tuesday 7 April
- Watch the recording of our previous Q&A session here
Please note that all awards nominations now use the same application form, so you can nominate yourself or someone else for multiple awards in one go, rather than completing separate forms
Nominate yourself or someone else
Message from HM The King
“As President of the Heritage Crafts Association, I am delighted to endorse this new awards scheme which supports and rewards excellence in the heritage craft sector.
Crafts are such a vital part of our British heritage and I have always been passionately concerned to promote the best aspects of our country’s traditions ― and, equally importantly, to enable these highly specialised skills to be transferred from one generation to the next.
These new awards for heritage craft celebrate excellence across the sector in a variety of ways. They reward those who give so much by volunteering to support the many different crafts, those who pass on their skills, those who wish to improve their craft skills and those who continue to produce great British craft.”
Previous award winners
Owen Bushell, Millwright
Lorna Singleton – Oak swill basket maker
Nikki Laird, Kilt Maker
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Ready to take your shoe and boot making skills to the next level? 👞🥾🥿👠👢
Heritage Crafts, in partnership with the @worshipfulcordwainers, is now accepting applications for training bursaries of up to £4,000 in our craft-specific round!
Whether you are a newcomer looking to break into the industry or an early-career maker facing financial hurdles, this bursary is designed to help you gain the skills of hand-sewn shoe and boot making.
👉 Apply now via the linktr.ee in our bio or directly at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/bursaries/shoemaking-bursary/
Deadline: 5pm, Friday 30 March.
#shoemaking #bootmaking #heritagecrafts #creativecareers #UKcrafts
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Trainee Master Setter
Location: London
Budrevich Fine Jewellery is a trusted partner of several of London’s most recognised, respected and established jewellery brands, who also undertake a wide range of commissions for private clients. Operating from their purpose-built, cutting-edge workshop in Hatton Garden, they are recruiting a trainee diamond micro-setter who is looking to master the craft.
You would be joining a small, specialist, expert team of master jewellers who are at the forefront of jewellery design and manufacturing. The role is open to setters, mounters or goldsmiths of all levels who possess a keen eye for detail, have a desire to learn and, most importantly, a genuine passion for making the very finest jewellery.
Find out how to apply at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/matchmaker
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
Calling all aspiring saddle makers, side saddle makers, bridle makers, harness makers and collar makers! 🐎
Are you looking to master your craft, refine your skills, or undertake specialist training, yet can’t afford to get the skills training you need? We want to hear from you.
Applications for our 2026 training bursaries supported by the @saddlerscompany.saddlershall are closing on Friday 30 March.
Don’t miss the chance to take your skills to the next level. Funding is limited, so prepare your application early!
Linktr.ee in bio to apply or directly at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/bursaries/saddlery-bursary/
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Willow weaver
Location: Suffolk
Deadline: 4 March 2026
Heritage Willow @heritagewillow are a small group of talented, traditional weavers who specialise in constructing continuous willow fences. Due to continued growth in demand for their work, they are expanding their weaving team this Spring by recruiting a willow weaver (either full time or part time).
No prior experience is necessary, as full training will be provided, though the successful candidate will need to be:
-Resilient and hard working.
-Reliable and a team player.
-Happy working outdoors in all weathers.
-Practical and good with their hands.
-Have excellent attention to detail.
-Positive, polite and professional.
Heritage Willow is based in Suffolk, with their farm HQ near Debenham. The majority of their work sites are local, between Ipswich, Norwich and the East Anglian Coast. This role would suit somebody within this area who can drive and has access to their own car. Occasionally, work is taken on across the country and there would be an expectation that you would participate in these projects which involve travel and overnight stays.
This is physically demanding but rewarding and creative work using traditional weaving techniques to build bespoke, beautiful willow fencing.
The role will be for an initial 6-month period with the potential for a long-term position thereafter.
Find out how to apply at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/matchmaker
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Trainee pointe shoe maker
Location: Leicester
The Suffolk Pointe Shoe Company are recruiting for a trainee pointe shoe maker. You will receive full hands-on training and the chance to master a unique craft and contribute to world-class ballet pointe shoes.
What you will do:
-Learning and applying each step of the shoe-making process.
-Working at your own workstation, using traditional methods.
-Using hand tools such as hammers, scissors, brushes, and knives.
-Handling tacks, adhesives, and shoe lasts (foot forms).
-Reading and following order tickets accurately.
-Meeting quality and production targets in a fast-paced environment
Find out how to apply at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/matchmaker
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
Ready to take your stained glass skills to the next level? 🎨✨
Heritage Crafts in partnership with the British Society of Master Glass Painters @bsmgp, is now accepting applications for training bursaries of up to £4,000 in our craft-specific round!
Whether you are a newcomer looking to break into the industry or an early-career maker facing financial hurdles, this bursary is designed to help you gain the skills of stained glass making, painting, and conservation.
👉 Apply now via the linktr.ee in our bio or directly at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/bursaries/stained-glass-bursary/
Deadline: 5pm, Friday 30 March.
#stainedglass #heritagecrafts #glasspainting #creativecareers #UKcrafts
Over three posts we are profiling three additional recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.
Kelsey Moray Luke @wearemorayluke, from South Wales, taught herself leatherworking during the pandemic, using her newfound skills of cutting, shaping, stitching and finishing to launch her own accessories brand using sustainable materials such as fish leather. Her bursary is funding training with Toby Thomas of @ottely bespoke leatherwork studio, focusing on advanced appliqué techniques using leather waste.
Kelsey’s bursary is supported by @heritagefunduk and made possible by players of the National Lottery.
Kelsey said: “I find leatherwork quite intensive and so I wish to utilise stamping as a technique that will be easier on my joints (more ergonomic). Whilst my fish leather products are amazing, I have to get outside help, so acquiring this technique will allow me to do everything in house.”
This week’s #mondaymaker is Susan Green @boundbyhand – a bookbinder.
Susan has made books for over sixteen years for individuals, venues, brands and charities all over the world. Focusing on natural materials, archival bindings and simplicity of design, she creates books which are pleasurable to use, enjoyable to own, extremely functional, and above all, designed and bound by hand to last a lifetime. Susan has also taught other learners and enjoys mentoring creatives who wish to expand their practice.
View Susan’s full profile on our maker’s directory: https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/maker/boundbyhand/
#heritagecrafts #mondaymaker #bookbinding
