Heritage Crafts Awards
recognition for master craftspeople and emerging talent
We are open for nominations
Established in 2012, the annual Heritage Crafts Awards are a range of awards each year which shine a spotlight on those individuals who champion heritage crafts skills and trades. We are indebted to our partner organisations who provide funding for our unique suite of awards and bursaries specifically for traditional crafts, and who make this possible.
The Heritage Crafts Awards celebrate and highlight the traditional living crafts made in the UK that contribute to our national heritage, such as silversmithing, dressmaking and tailoring, upholstery, weaving, leatherworking, metalworking, stained glass, green woodworking, embroidery and similar crafts where there is a significant degree of hand skill at the point of manufacture.
- Patron’s Award for Endangered Crafts
- England Maker of the Year
- Northern Ireland Maker of the Year
- Scotland Maker of the Year
- Wales Maker of the Year
- Precious Metalworker of the Year
- Fashion Textile Maker of the Year
- Woodworker of the Year
- Emerging Building Craftsperson of the Year
- Emerging Leatherworker of the Year
- Emerging Upholsterer of the Year
- Emerging Weaver of the Year
- Emerging Green Woodworker of the Year
- Emerging Stained Glass Maker 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
Before nominating yourself or someone else, we encourage you to take time to read through these important links:
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – please read for useful tips
- NOMINATION QUESTIONS – for your reference
- Watch our Live Q&A Session on grants, awards and bursaries recorded on 7 April
Please note that all Awards nominations now use the same nomination form, so you can nominate yourself or someone else for multiple awards all at once from just one form.
To nominate, please click on one of the relevant Awards above
DEADLINE: 5pm, Friday 21 August
Video or audio nominations:
Alternatively, you are welcome to submit a video or audio nomination, addressing all the questions in the form – You can download the questions here. The recording ideally needs to be no more than 15 minutes in length, then emailed to Rae at [email protected].
Nominate yourself or someone else
Patron’s Award for Endangered Crafts
England Maker of the Year Award
Northern Ireland Maker of the Year Award
Scotland Maker of the Year Award
Wales Maker of the Year Award
Precious Metalworker of the Year Award
Fashion Textile Maker of the Year Award
Woodworker of the Year Award
Emerging Leatherworker of the Year Award
Emerging Upholsterer of the Year Award
Emerging Weaver of the Year Award
Emerging Green Woodworker of the Year Award
Emerging Stained Glass Maker of the Year Award
Emerging Embroiderer of the Year Award
Emerging Metalworker of the Year Award
Trainer of the Year Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
Community Catalyst of the Year Award
Trainee of the Year Award
Emerging Building Craftsperson of the Year Award
Message from HM The King
“As Patron 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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A huge thank you from everyone at @heritagecrafts for a wonderful @craftfestival
To our incredible demonstrates, holding the beacon for what you do, answering questions, showing your skill and raising awareness of our intangible heritage.
Thank you to our speakers for taking the time to share more about what your practice and why it matters.
Thank you to the team for being all hands on deck.
We had a blast, and captured some lovely stories that we can’t wait to share with you.
What was your favourite part of Craft Festival?
#craftfestival #heritagecraft #boveytracey
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Heritage Machinery Conservation Internship
Deadline: 1 July 2026
Location: Manchester
Are you curious about how things work? Interested in history, engineering, conservation or making? Want to build hands-on skills while working with incredible historic machinery?
This is a unique opportunity to begin a career in heritage conservation by working with the Science and Industry Museum’s collection of historic textile looms.
This internship will help preserve and restore machines that tell the story of Manchester’s industrial past, whilst developing valuable technical and conservation skills for your future career.
As a Heritage Machinery Conservation Intern, you’ll work alongside experienced technicians, conservators and museum professionals to help care for and conserve historic textile machinery.
Find out more including 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.
Over 20 posts we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.
Ame Stevens, from Bristol, has spent the last nine years working as a shipwright and joiner, primarily focused on the conservation and restoration of traditional fishing vessels. Their bursary will fund a nine-month training programme focused around instrument cases, including one-to-one tuition with @warriner.leather focusing on traditional tub making, short courses with @armitageleather in saddle stitching and bag design, and essential tools and materials.
Ame’s bursary is supported by @theleathersellers.
Ame said: “I am really excited to receive the training bursary, to both have the opportunity to receive some one-to-one tuition with skilled craftspeople, and invest in my tools as I develop my leatherworking practice.”
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Production Trainee (ceramics)
Location: Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire
Craven Dunnill Jackfield is one of Britain’s most respected ceramic tile manufacturers, with over 150 years of heritage producing high-quality wall and floor tiles for architectural, restoration and design projects throughout the UK and beyond. They are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Production Trainee to join their team at their Jackfield factory.
This is a development role designed to provide comprehensive training across all areas of our manufacturing operation. No previous experience is required. They are looking for someone with a positive attitude, a willingness to learn and an interest in developing practical skills within a unique manufacturing environment.
This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in traditional ceramic production techniques while learning from experienced craftspeople and production specialists.
Find out more including 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.
Congratulations to craft recipients in the King’s Birthday Honours, including:
• Dr Diana Springall MBE, for services to arts and crafts (pictured)
• Mark Boddington MBE @silverliningfurniture, for services to design and innovation in furniture making (pictured)
• Agnes McCullough MBE for services to the art of lacemaking and needlecraft in Northern Ireland
• Caterina Googhart MBE, for services to conservation and heritage crafts
• Cefyn Burgess BEM, for services to arts and crafts
• Sandra Choi OBE @jimmychoo, for services to fashion
Over 20 posts we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.
Izzi Walters @itw.leather, from Aberystwyth, has been immersed in the equestrian world from a young age and moved to London at 17 to pursue a professional saddlery career at @capelmanor. Her bursary will fund 15 days of intensive one-to-one mentorship with Master Saddler Lily Spackman @lilys_xox, alongside the materials, travel and accommodation necessary to complete her final assessments at the @walsallleatherskillscentre.
Izzi’s bursary is supported by the @saddlerscompany.saddlershall.
Izzi said: “Receiving this bursary will enable me to achieve my Level 3 in Bridle Making and work towards completing my Master Saddlers qualification much sooner in a world that is ever changing, while also helping me continue and preserve an endangered craft for future generations.”
Line Hansen, from Capel Manor College, said: “The youngest student in her class at Capel Manor College, Izzi proved to have a keen eye for detail, an insatiable appetite for learning, and an inquisitive mind. She is good at anticipating and resolving problems and her production standards were good. Her training has given her the transposed skills to further her training to become a master of her craft.”
