Training bursary for saddlery

12th January 2026  |  BURSARIES

Training bursary for saddlery

Deadline: 5pm on Friday 20 March 2026

Worshipful Company of Saddlers This training bursary is targeted at new entrants and early-career craftspeople working in saddlery (including saddle making, side saddle making, bridle making, harness making and collar making), who are experiencing financial hardship. It is supported by the Worshipful Company of Saddlers and is part of a suite of grants, awards and bursaries offered by Heritage Crafts to support and celebrate heritage craftspeople.

Apply for up to £4,000 to start training in saddlery, bridlemaking and harness making or to further develop your skills.

Many people are dissuaded from training in heritage crafts because of the cost, and therefore the make-up of the sector is not truly representative of the mix of backgrounds that make up the UK as a whole. This bursary has been set up to help cover or subsidise the cost of training for someone who would otherwise be prevented from pursuing this career path as a result of the cost.

Bursaries are for:

  • new entrants who have demonstrated a commitment to starting a new craft career and need to acquire the necessary hand skills;
  • early-career practitioners who have not yet attained the hand skills required to achieve commercial success; or
  • early- or mid-career craftspeople who need to acquire distinctly different hand skills to develop new ways of achieving commercial success.

Applications for this bursary can include saddle making, side saddle making, bridle making, harness making and collar making.

If you are new to a craft and are struggling to find the right training for you, after your own research, please get in touch and we may be able to support. Successful applicants will be supported by the Heritage Crafts team to develop an action plan. We will work with you to monitor progress and support you to achieve your aims

What can this grant be used for?

You can apply for a bursary for any amount up to £4,000 which can cover or contribute towards the costs of:

  • apprenticeship-style training with a craftsperson/people;
  • attending a specialist training course (accredited or non-accredited);
  • undertaking a self-directed programme of workshop placements with one or more craftspeople;
  • the cost of specialist tools or materials, books or study materials, or supporting travel and accommodation (no more than 30% of total budget).
  • participation in the Society of Master Saddlers Saddlery Mentoring Scheme.

The bursary cannot be used for general living expenses, research, promotional activities or anything else.

Society of Master Saddlers Saddlery Mentoring Scheme

If you wish, you can use £180 of your bursary funds to take part in the Saddlers’ Company recognised Society of Master Saddlers Saddlery Mentoring Scheme, delivered remotely by phone or online. Mentoring provides structured guidance alongside practical training – for example, support with technical problem-solving, skill planning, workshop practice, pricing, or early business decisions.

Mentoring takes the form of 12 scheduled calls over 12 months, with each call/online session arranged in advance and focused on agreed topics.

Mentoring sessions should:

  • Address clear learning or professional development needs
  • Add value to other training (not duplicate it)
  • Be realistic, proportionate, and achievable
  • Support progress towards skilled, sustainable practice

They should fit within a wider learning plan.

What to expect:

  • Professional guidance and perspective
  • Space for reflection and planning
  • Confidence and accountability

Mentoring does not provide:

  • Direct skills instruction
  • Work experience or referrals

Please indicate in your application and budget if you wish to include the Society of Master Saddlers Saddlery Mentoring Scheme in your application, and, if you are successful, you will be referred to the Society of Master Saddlers, who will match your specific needs with a mentor with expertise in that area.

How to apply

Please apply by filling out the form via the link below. We will also accept a video application of no more than 15 minutes in length in which you address all of the questions in the form below. You can access a list of questions here.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 20 March 2026. If you have any questions or need assistance with the application process, please email Rae Weaver at [email protected].

Assessment, shortlisting and final selection will be carried out by the Heritage Crafts judging team, and interviews will be carried out by Zoom. If you are new to a craft and you would like assistance with finding a trainer, please get in touch and we will do what we can to help.