20 new training bursaries awarded

Heritage Crafts is delighted to award 20 new bursaries for trainees from across the UK to learn heritage craft skills, supported by the Leathersellers’ Foundation, Costume Society, Saddlers’ Company, CITBNI, Cordwainers’ Company, British Society of Master Glass Painters, International Guild of Knot Tyers and the Royal British Legion.

These precede 33 more bursaries due to be awarded later this year, providing up to £4,000 to support heritage crafts trainees whose talent might otherwise be lost to the sector were it not for vital additional hands-on training at the start of their career.

• Damilaara Adeyemi, from London, is a costume maker who pivoted into the craft after a career in non-profit marketing and has gained experience on major film productions. Her bursary will be applied toward the fees for a practical, intensive course at the Northern College of Costume, focusing on period tailoring, millinery and historical garment construction.
  Damilaara’s bursary is supported by the Costume Society.

• Theo de Búrca, from County Down, is a self-employed stonemason and contractor for the National Trust and the Mourne Heritage Trust who transitioned from upland conservation into full-time stonework in 2022. His bursary will fund the first two residential modules of a Professional Development Diploma in Building Conservation at West Dean College in Sussex.
  Theo’s bursary is supported by CITBNI.

• Sabrina Clarke, from London, is a theatrical armourer and leatherworking assistant who completed an apprenticeship at the Royal Opera House. Her bursary will fund a diverse training package, including pattern drafting at the London Leather Workshop, an expert leather repair course, specialist tooling and dyeing with Philippa Davidson, and the purchase of essential equipment to help her continue her own practice.
  Sabrina’s bursary is supported by the Leathersellers’ Foundation.

• Ella Clifton-Gould, from Gloucestershire, has spent two years training in shoemaking, including specialising in orthopaedic footwear at Tutty’s Handmade Shoes and studying in Germany. Her bursary will fund her place on the UAL Footwear Summer School at the London College of Fashion under the tutelage of Nafi Mustafa, covering course fees, travel and accommodation.
  Ella’s bursary is supported by the Cordwainers’ Company.

• Steve Farrell, from Carmarthenshire, served for 22 years in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and has a background in bespoke furniture upholstery. His bursary will fund a part-time foundation course at the Walsall Leather Skills Centre alongside essential tools, leather and travel costs, allowing him to master traditional leatherworking and sewing machine techniques.
  Steve’s bursary is funded by the Royal British Legion.

• Kate Fossey, from Belfast, is a full-time student on the All-Ireland Heritage Skills programme with a background in hospitality and mural painting. Her bursary will fund intensive one-to-one training with Tony Moore in Belfast, focusing on water and surface gilding and hand-lettering styles.
  Kate’s bursary is supported by CITBNI.

• Clinton Geldard, from Berkshire, is a veteran with over 20 years of experience in vehicle engineering and a long history of self-taught trim work, welding and fabrication. His bursary will fund specialist training at the Auto Crafts Academy and Artizan Training, focusing on advanced sewing techniques, machine maintenance and leatherwork skills for car interiors and wider leatherworking practices.
  Clinton’s bursary is supported by the Leathersellers’ Foundation.

• Nic Harding, from Wirral, served as a Ranger and Forest School practitioner for 22 years before finding leather carving. His bursary will fund ten days of one-to-one training with Nigel Armitage and a two-day intermediate bag-making course with Jo Heard at the Walsall Leather Skills Centre to refine his construction techniques.
  Nic’s bursary is supported by the Leathersellers’ Foundation.

• Laurence Knoop, a liveaboard narrowboater, is a self-employed ropeworker who has spent four years self-teaching traditional maritime decorative techniques under his business Splice and Fid. His bursary will fund intensive one-to-one training with Sue Pennison, covering rope making, solid decorative knotting for bell ropes and tillers, and specialised covering techniques such as needle-hitching and cross-pointing.
  Laurence’s bursary is supported by the International Guild of Knot Tyers.

• Kylie McConnell, from Dumfries and Galloway, is an organic beef farmer seeking to create a circular ‘farm to fashion’ economy by using hides from her own cattle. Her bursary will fund a blend of leatherskills courses and training, including time spent at Walsall Leather Skills Centre and Nigel Armitage.
  Kylie’s bursary is supported by the Leathersellers’ Foundation.

• Gabe Perrott, from Bangor, works as a maintenance assistant at the Clandeboye Estate and has a background in heritage maintenance, timber preparation and vintage car restoration. His bursary will fund intensive one-to-one training with Bernard McCrickerd of BeMac Joinery, focusing specifically on the repair and restoration of sliding sash windows, alongside a tailored toolkit.
  Gabe’s bursary is supported by CITBNI.

• Emily Scholefield, from Hampshire, is an artist and embroiderer with a background in ballet who recently completed a contemporary hand embroidery diploma with Hand & Lock. Her bursary will fund one-to-one online mentoring with Stephanie Woodage of En Pointe Tutus and Dancewear covering tutu construction, a UAL short course in costume design, and essential equipment.
  Emily’s bursary is supported by the Costume Society.

• Olive Shaw, from Northampton, works as a trainee bespoke shoemaker and assistant at Gaziano & Girling and previously served as a course leader for footwear manufacturing apprenticeships. Her bursary will fund eight intensive sessions of one-to-one training in traditional wooden last making with Robert Elek, alongside essential materials, tools and travel.
  Olive’s bursary is supported by the Cordwainers’ Company.

• Laura Spencer, from London, entered the stained glass trade in January 2025 through proactive unpaid placements, and has built a technical foundation in glass cutting, leading and site-based restoration at two London studios. Her bursary will fund a glass painting masterclass with Derek Hunt followed by 12 days of intensive one-to-one mentoring with Claire Orme.
  Laura’s bursary is supported by the British Society of Master Glass Painters.

• 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 Katy Warriner focusing on traditional tub making, short courses with Nigel Armitage in saddle stitching and bag design, and essential tools and materials.
  Ame’s bursary is supported by the Leathersellers’ Foundation.

• Tsun Hin Tang, from Leicester, brings extensive equestrian equipment maintenance experience from the Hong Kong Jockey Club and recently won third prize at the 2026 National Saddlery Competition. His bursary will fund his City & Guilds Level 2 and Level 3 training at the Walsall Leather Skills Centre, covering intermediate and advanced courses in bridle, saddle and harness making.
  Tsun Hin’s bursary is supported by the Saddlers’ Company.

• Andy Thorpe, from Glasgow, holds a Diploma in Bespoke Tailoring from The Tailoring Academy, and is currently working as a factory worker, producing made-to-measure Highlandwear garments. His bursary will fund a year of structured, one-to-one workshop training with established bespoke tailor Alis Le May in Glasgow, focusing on core hand skills and complex bespoke fittings.
  Andy’s bursary is supported by the Costume Society.

• Izzi Walters, from Aberystwyth, has been immersed in the equestrian world from a young age and moved to London at age 17 to pursue a professional saddlery career at Capel Manor College. Her bursary will fund 15 days of intensive one-to-one mentorship with Master Saddler Lily Spackman, alongside the materials, travel and accommodation necessary to complete her final assessments at the Walsall Leather Skills Centre.
  Izzi’s bursary is supported by the Saddlers’ Company.

• Katy Warriner, from Devon, is a mid-career leatherworker who has spent a decade working as a leather prop maker for the film and television industry. Her bursary will fund intensive one-to-one training with specialist makers John Macdonald and Francis Roche, allowing her to pivot to the endangered disciplines of traditional collar making, wooden tree construction and fine harness work.
  Katy’s bursary is supported by the Saddlers’ Company.

• Libbie Watson, from Kent, began her leathercraft journey in 2017 as a creative outlet during a period of long-term illness. Her bursary will fund a series of structured training modules, including a five-day pattern-cutting course at Hands of Tym and ten days of one-to-one bag-making tuition at The London Leather Workshop.
  Libbie’s bursary is supported by the Leathersellers’ Foundation.

Heritage Crafts Executive Director Daniel Carpenter said:

“These bursaries, worth over £75k thanks to the contributions of our funders, will set 20 individuals on the path to sustainable and fulfilling careers, while helping improve the overall viability and public appreciation of these skills for many years to come. Heritage Crafts is committed to demonstrating to governments that relatively small investments in hands-on training, at the right time, can set individuals up for lifelong careers, even if they have started off facing multiple barriers.”

Click here to see the previous 113 bursaries awarded since 2021.