Awards

The Heritage Crafts awards

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, woodworking, dressmaking and tailoring, leatherworking, pottery, building crafts, upholstery, weaving, embroidery and similar other crafts where there is a significant degree of hand skill at the point of manufacture.

Applications are now closed for 2024

Our next awards round is due to open in early 2025. Keep an eye out on social media and our website for specific dates nearer the time.

Previous award winners

Lucy Barlow – hat maker

Sally Morrison – watch dial enameller

Tom Ball – woodcarver

Message from the Former Prince of Wales

“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.”

Nominate yourself or someone else

Lifetime Achievement Award

Lifetime Achievement Award

£1,000
Community Catalyst of the Year Award

Community Catalyst of the Year Award

£1,000
Trainee of the Year Award

Trainee of the Year Award

£1,000
Scotland Maker of the Year Award

Scotland Maker of the Year Award

£1,000
Northern Ireland Maker of the Year Award

Northern Ireland Maker of the Year Award

£1,000
England Maker of the Year Award

England Maker of the Year Award

£1,000
Wales Maker of the Year Award

Wales Maker of the Year Award

£1,000
Trainer of the Year Award

Trainer of the Year Award

£1,000
Maker of the Year Award

Maker of the Year Award

£1,000 per UK nation
Environmental Sustainability Award

Environmental Sustainability Award

£1,000
President’s Award for Endangered Crafts

President’s Award for Endangered Crafts

£3,000
Precious Metalworker of the Year Award

Precious Metalworker of the Year Award

£2,000
Woodworker of the Year Award

Woodworker of the Year Award

£2,000
Fashion and Textile Maker of the Year Award

Fashion and Textile Maker of the Year Award

£2,000
Leatherworker of the Year Award

Leatherworker of the Year Award

£2,000
Potter of the Year Award

Potter of the Year Award

£2,000
Young Woodworker of the Year Award

Young Woodworker of the Year Award

£1,000
Young Metalworker of the Year Award

Young Metalworker of the Year Award

£1,000
Young Leatherworker of the Year Award

Young Leatherworker of the Year Award

£1,000
Young Building Craftsperson of the Year Award

Young Building Craftsperson of the Year Award

£1,000
Young Upholsterer of the Year Award

Young Upholsterer of the Year Award

£1,000
Young Weaver of the Year Award

Young Weaver of the Year Award

£1,000
Young Embroiderer of the Year Award

Young Embroiderer of the Year Award

£1,000

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Over 29 days we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.

Sacha Chandisingh, from Brighton, showed potential as a ballet dancer as a child but was unable to pursue her dream, so instead she channelled her interest into tutu making. She will train one-to-one with @federicaromano.costumes and take a short course at @handandlocklondon. Sacha plans to set up her own business at a tutu maker in both the ‘pancake’ and Romantic styles.

Sacha’s bursary is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund @heritagefunduk and made possible by money raised by National Lottery players.

Sacha said:
“I have always had a passion and aptitude for sewing and making, particularly in relation to dance, which has continually been a big part of my life. Having worked for English National Ballet as a Wardrobe Assistant, and refurbishing many tutus, a combination of these passions has led me to wanting to make professional tutus. After many years of searching for a tutu making course, I have finally found a professional tutu maker who has worked for English National Ballet, who is giving me bespoke training. The Heritage Craft bursary will enable me to finish my training, complete a hand embroidery diploma with Hand & Lock and start my business in professional tutu making and hand embroidery. Tutus have significant importance in the ballet world and I can’t wait to be supporting this valuable craft.”
Over 29 days we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.

Hannah Macfarlane @thistle_and_cloth, from the Scottish Highlands, has various RAF postings before transferring to the Royal Corps of Army Music as part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland band. She will build on her new kiltmaking practice with dedicated one-to-one training with a master kiltmaker in her area. Hannah is keen to help develop a heritage crafts hub in her rural community to increase tourism.

Hannah’s bursary is funded by the Royal British Legion Duston Branch. The Royal British Legion is the UK’s leading Armed Forces charity, providing lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families.
 
Hannah said:
“Since being discharged from the Forces in November 2023, a new chapter of my life has begun! Scotland has always been an important goal, and I feel I have found my niche in kilt making. Having worn a kilt for years on parade, I can truly connect with its symbolism as a Scottish icon of heritage and tradition. I feel very blessed to have the support of a Heritage Crafts training bursary, to help me train as a kilt maker as I now start a new life in the Highlands.”