Heritage Crafts Awards
recognition for master craftspeople and emerging talent
Now closed 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.
The 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.
This year, we are delighted to be holding the Winner’s Reception at the prestigious Goldsmiths’ Hall in London on Monday 23 November, in partnership with the Goldsmiths’ Company.
The awards are presented in partnership with supporters the King Charles III Charitable Fund, The Royal Mint, the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, the Goldsmiths’ Company, the Costume Society, the Marsh Charitable Trust, the Leathersellers’ Foundation, the Broderers’ Company, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, the British Society of Master Glass Painters, Woodsmith, House of Sonnaz, Rose Uniacke, Hiut Denim and Mourne Textiles.
We are indebted to all our partner organisations who provide funding for our unique suite of awards and bursaries specifically for traditional crafts, and who make this possible.
THE 2026 HERITAGE CRAFTS AWARD CATEGORIES ARE:
- 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
NOMINATIONS FOR 2026 NOW CLOSED
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.”
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Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.
Chiazam Saint Venit, from Croydon, has completed Level 1 Bespoke Tailoring at @newhamcollege alongside art and design foundation studies. His bursary will fund his tuition for a pattern making course and SEG Awards Level 3 Award in Tailoring at the @fashiontechnologyacademy, as well as the Bespoke Drafting at @thelondonacademyofbespoke, preparing him for a tailoring house apprenticeship.
Chiazam’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.
Chiazam said: “Securing this funding is hugely impactful for me. It strengthens my ability to keep developing in my craft and consolidate my practice.”
Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.
Em Mount, from London, has a background in illustration and community kitchen management, currently completing the first year of a heritage masonry diploma. Their bursary will cover the remaining course fees for their second year of study in stonemasonry at the @buildingcraftscollege in London.
Em’s bursary is supported by the Newby Trust.
Em said: “The Heritage Crafts training bursary has enabled me to complete my final year studying heritage banker masonry. I can’t wait to continue learning and getting to work on such interesting pieces. Many thanks for the funding and to the team.”
Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.
Zane Palmer, from Luton, has five years of self-taught experience in jewellery fabrication, casting and CAD through his brand concept @33andco_. His bursary will fund a phased seven-day masterclass programme in micro-pavé, grain setting and advanced stone setting with master diamond setter John Daniels FIPG @diamondsetting4u.
Zane’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.
Zane said: “Receiving the Heritage Crafts training bursary is the best news I’ve had all year and marks a true turning point for my career. In an industry where high-level stone setting is notoriously difficult to access, this funding could not have been timed better. It genuinely means the world to me – I feel I’ve finally been given the opportunity to learn directly from a master, refine my technical skills and prove what I can achieve. I am deeply grateful to Heritage Crafts and the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation for investing in my future.”
Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.
Vitalija Glovackyte @vit_pianoservices, from Manchester, works as a piano technician assistant at the Royal Northern College of Music and runs an independent restoration practice. Her bursary will fund specialist grand piano servicing and one-to-one regulation training with Doug Chapman at the @royalacademyofmusic, alongside a technician masterclass at the @bechstein.official Technicians’ Academy in Germany.
Vitalija’s bursary is supported by the Dulverton Trust.
Vitalija said: “I am incredibly honoured to receive this grant. As I establish and grow my piano restoration business in Manchester, it gives me the opportunity to invest in specialist training that would otherwise have been difficult to access. Learning directly from highly experienced technicians will deepen my skills, refine my craft and help me take the quality of my restoration and servicing work to the next level. I’m incredibly grateful for the support and for the confidence being placed in me at such an important stage in my career.”
Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.
Reece Gilroy @lug.oles, from London, has been working at an eyewear workshop in East London, developing skills in spectacle making. His bursary will fund a four-day intensive one-to-one course in Nice with master French spectacle maker @sebastiengarnier_lunetier, focusing on traditional metal frame crafting, assembly and finishing to bring the endangered skill back to the UK.
Reece’s bursary is supported by the Newby Trust.
Reece said: “I’m deeply excited to have received this funding, it will hopefully open up some doors for the eyewear community here in Britain, helping us to expand back into metal work. I’m looking forward to being able to bear the torch for the revival of this niche skill and then being able to teach the skill to others within the community.”
Over 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.
Rachel Holding @curiousgilding, from London, has practised reverse glass gilding and sign painting for six years alongside a professional career as an advertising creative. Her bursary will fund bespoke one-to-one training with master craftsman @by_umberto, developing advanced reverse glass water gilding, acid etching and brilliant cutting.
Rachel’s bursary is supported by the Dulverton Trust.
Rachel said: “I’ve spent years practising reverse glass signpainting and gilding in spare rooms and stolen weekends, falling more in love with it but struggling to develop as fast as I’d like. This funding means I can train with one of the best practitioners in the UK, who will undoubtedly tell me all the things I’ve been doing wrong. And that’s exactly what I’m most looking forward to.”
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Saddle Repair Technician
Where: Walsall, West Midlands
Aviar Saddles is seeking a Repair Technician.
Prospective candidates will possess good hand eye coordination and be handy with the use of tools in building. Previous experience with other craft/skill based work, carpentry, welding and construction is preferred but not required.
They are looking for good, down to earth people with a healthy attitude. Experience is preferred but they will train the right candidate.
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 35 posts we are profiling the recipients of our latest round of training bursaries.
Domal McKenzie @rhubarbncustardco, from London, is an independent menswear designer currently completing a residency at @makerversity. His bursary will fund two intensive courses at the @londonfashioncollege – the Bomber Jacket course with @anthonyprinci.ldn and the Menswear Pattern Cutting Intensive with @patterncutter.
Domal’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Corporate Foundation.
Domal said: “Receiving this bursary gives me the support I need to keep making and developing my craft. It’s a huge boost for my work and where I’m taking it next.”