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#matchMAKER opportunity!

Trainee furniture maker

Where: London

Founded by furniture maker Matthew Hensby, the @hensbyworkshop was set up with a belief that traditional craftsmanship can hold a lasting place within contemporary design.

Matthew is looking to hear from people at the beginning of their furniture-making career who are interested in developing their skills within a professional workshop environment. The role would involve working alongside an experienced maker on bespoke furniture commissions, starting with the fundamentals and gradually taking on more responsibility as skills develop.

Some practical furniture-making experience is desirable, whether through formal training or time in a workshop, but qualifications are not essential. More important are a strong eye for detail, patience, care in making, and a genuine commitment to developing traditional furniture-making skills.

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.

#matchMAKER opportunity!

Craftsperson Operative (willow)

Deadline: 4 September 2026
Where: Somerset

Are you passionate about craftsmanship and hands-on work? Somerset Willow is looking for a motivated individual to join its team as a Willow Craftsperson. You’ll learn time-honoured weaving techniques and help create premium handmade willow products cherished by customers across the UK and abroad.

Somerset Willow is a leading UK manufacturer of premium handmade willow products, supplying industries ranging from funerals to interiors and fashion. Its commitment to craftsmanship and quality has earned it a strong reputation at home and internationally.

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.

2027 Calendar Photography Competition

Deadline for entries: 21 September 2026

We are creating an official Heritage Crafts 2027 Calendar, to be sold through our online shop later this year.

To make this calendar a true celebration of traditional craft skills across the UK, we are inviting makers to submit high-quality photographs of their work and workshops.

Twelve selected makers will be featured as the main image for each month of the year, showcasing the incredible breadth, precision and beauty of heritage crafts to thousands of craft enthusiasts.

Find out mor at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/our-stories/photocompetition2027/ or via the linktr.ee in our bio.

📷 Gerald Monaghan blacksmith at Ulster Folk Museum, by Philip Utton

Five-day Passementerie Masterclass with Jessica Light @jessica_light_, the ‘Tassel Queen of Bethnal Green’ – supported by @goldsmithsfoundation. 🧵

📍 Where: Weavers Works @weavers.works, Walthamstow, London E17 7BH

⏰ When: 25 to 30 October 2026, 10am to 4pm each day with a lunch break (lunch provided)

💰 Cost: £300 (three free bursary places available for those from under-represented communities or facing financial hardship – subject to availability)

✍️ Application deadline: Monday 31 August 2026

Join the ‘Tassel Queen of Bethnal Green’ for a five-day intensive course on passementerie aimed at intermediate textile practitioners. With over three decades of experience in the trade, a well-established authority on the historic techniques and one of only a few contemporary practitioners, Jessica Light is a leading figure in the endangered craft of passementerie.

This is a unique opportunity to spend a considerable amount of time with Jessica, gaining hands-on experience, close tuition on a range of weaving and table work techniques, guidance on materials and colour, and a look at passementerie notation.

At the end of the course, trainees will be able to create highly ornamental or pared-back embellishments for furniture, lighting, clothes, and costumes through a rich interplay of materials, techniques, patterns, colours, and textures.

This course is not intended as an ‘experience’; it is for working practitioners who intend to incorporate these skills into their textile practice. Both masterclasses cover the same areas and each have five places available, providing a focused and supportive learning environment.

To ensure equitable access to this vital training opportunity, we are providing three free bursary places for individuals from under-represented communities or facing financial hardship – subject to availability.

Please note, places will be allocated based on suitability. Please fill in the application form and Heritage Crafts will contact you with news of whether you have been accepted onto the course.

📲 For more details and to apply, please visit the linktr.ee in our bio or https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/our-stories/passementeriemasterclass/.

#matchMAKER opportunity!

Trainee Jeweller

Where: Cambridgeshire

Chloe’s Jewellers & Repairs has been family-owned business for over 100 years, serving the high streets of Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, Essex and Norfolk with high quality jewellery sales and repairs.

This paid internship is designed to nurture your talent while offering invaluable industry insights. Grow your skills alongside expert artisans in a vibrant environment that celebrates creativity, precision, and innovation.

You will gain hands-on experience in various aspects of jewellery making, from initial design concepts to finishing touches, while contributing to the creation of beautiful, high-quality pieces.

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.