These training bursaries offer financial assistance (up to £4,000) to individuals who want to start or further develop their skills in a heritage craft but are prevented from doing so due to cost. The aim is to support new entrants and early-career practitioners in the heritage crafts sector.

Bursaries are generally aimed at:

• New entrants who are committed to starting a new craft career and need to acquire essential hand skills.
• Early-career practitioners (in the first five years of their professional practice) who have not yet attained the hand skills required for commercial success.
• Early or mid-career craftspeople who need to acquire distinctly different hand skills to develop new ways of achieving commercial success.

We open applications for training bursaries twice a year.

Once in early spring (approx. January-March) – this is a crafdt-specific round, and again in early summer (approx. March-June) – which is usually open-to-all heritage craft forms.

Application deadlines vary. It is crucial to check the Heritage Crafts training bursary page for the most up-to-date information on application opening and closing dates.

A heritage craft is generally defined as any craft that has been practiced for two or more generations, and which requires a high level of manual dexterity, specialised knowledge, and traditional hand skills to produce objects or carry out processes.

Please look at our Craft Inventory for more information on the heritage crafts we support and if you are not sure if your craft is included, please do get in touch to ask.

Yes, in addition to general bursaries, Heritage Crafts often offers ring-fenced bursaries for specific groups or areas, such as:

• Applicants who intend to work in specific regions (e.g., Scotland, Wales, Sussex)
• Specific craft categories (e.g. fashion and costume making, shoemaking, stained glass).
• Black and ethnically diverse trainees
• British military veterans

These ring-fenced categories may only relate to certain bursaries and not necessarily all. More details on the main training bursary page.

Applicants are automatically considered for all categories for which they qualify.

Our funding offer is of a limited supply, and therefore we don’t accept repeat applications from previous recipients for the same/similar skills development unless in exceptional circumstances. However, we are happy to support our past recipients by signposting to other funders or helping to developing their plans. In which case please email Rae: [email protected]

Bursaries can cover or contribute towards the costs of:

• Apprenticeship-style training with a craftsperson/people.
• Attending specialist training courses (accredited or non-accredited).
• Undertaking a self-directed program of training with one or more craftspeople.

The actual training must make up at least 70% of your training budget.

The following types of expenditure can make up the remaining 30%:

• The cost of specialist tools or materials, books, or study materials.
• Supporting travel and accommodation.

Our training bursaries cannot be used for:

• General living expenses.
• Research.
• Promotional activities.
• Anything else not directly related to the acquisition of hand skills for the craft.

You can apply for any amount up to £4,000. Applicants who apply for less than the maximum amount will not receive prefential treatment, and so should apply for what they need (up to £4,000) to maximize the impact on their skill development. 

Application form: Applications are typically made by completing an online application form available on the Heritage Crafts website before a deadline.

Video or Audio Applications: Alternatively, you are welcome to submit a video or audio application, addressing all the questions in the form and specifically highlighting your commitment to your craft. You can download the questions here: Application Questions – The recording ideally needs to be no more than 15 minutes in length. Then email it to Rae here: [email protected]

If neither of these methods works for you, let us know how you might prefer to apply (bearing in mind that you will need to tell us everything we need to know in order to fairly assess your application).

Please check the bursaries page to see when we are open for applications.

You will be asked to provide details about:

• Your personal information (name, contact details).
• Your current financial situation (including ticking boxes to indicate your rough annual earned income, other income and household income).
• Your proposed training plan, including how the bursary will help you overcome financial and other barriers.
• The heritage craft you wish to pursue or develop.
• Contact details for a referee (e.g., from a craft organisation, a previous trainer/teacher, but not a family member or your intended trainer).
• Photographs of any work you have already produced.
• If you have applied to Heritage Crafts previously.
• Whether you are a Heritage Crafts member (though this is not a requirement).

No, although we always welcome new members and we have a range of affordable options available – all with some excellent perks that you’ll love, such as being welcoming into an amazing community of makers and some useful members only resources too.

Check out our membership options here: Join Us

• Prepare in advance
• Clear focus or project
• Be specific 
• Tell a story
• Is now the right time?
• Consider sustainability.

Watch a recording of our last live Q&A session where you can pick up on more helpful tips: Grants, Awards & Bursaries Q&A

Yes, you will need to have a firm idea of the training that you need in order to achieve your outcomes including contact details for each. A well planned application is more likely to be successful.

However, if you are new to a craft and struggling to find a trainer, Heritage Crafts may be able to offer assistance, but please get in touch well before the deadline. 

Check out the questions in advance of applying: Questions for reference

For those based in Northern Ireland, we will fund training elsewhere in the UK as well as training in the Republic of Ireland.

We say if the skills you need are available in the UK then we are unlikely to fund overseas travel. However, if you can prove that the training is only available overseas, then we would consider funding it.

Note, that up to 30% of your grant budget can be allocated to support costs such as travel, accommodation, specialist tools or materials, books or study materials.

All applications are assessed by a diverse panel comprising Heritage Crafts staff, trustees, experienced makers, and external craft experts. This panel rigorously evaluates each application against set criteria to ensure fairness and transparency in the selection process. Shortlisted candidates are typically invited for an interview via Zoom.

No, the assessment is not about judging your skills at filling in forms or your literary prowess.

Whether you submit a written application or a video, the most important thing is to clearly and comprehensively communicate what you want to do, why you want to do it, and how the bursary will enable your training and development.

Focus on articulating your passion, your plan, and the impact the bursary will have.

Applications undergo assessment, shortlisting, and final selection by the Heritage Crafts judging team. Interviews are typically conducted via Zoom for shortlisted candidates.

Successful applicants will go on to receive support from the Heritage Crafts team to develop an action plan and monitor progress.

You cannot manually amend your application after it has been submitted. If you need to make changes, please get in touch and we will send over a copy of your application for you to amend: [email protected]

Yes, you can Save and return to its by following the instructions in the application form. 

However we strongly recommend that you draft your application in a separate document and then cut and paste your answers into the form when you are ready to submit. 

Download a copy of the questions here

Yes, you can download a copy of the questions here

Your proposed training must typically start within the next 12 months of grant being funded. Training can run over the course of a year to demonstrate learning and impact.

(This is unless a ring-fenced bursary has defined other timeframes, which will be  made clear when you apply ie. the craft specific bursary for Building Crafts in Northern Ireland).

Unfortunately we cannot fund in retrospect for courses that have already started. Unless of course you are applying for a second or third year. 

Training cannot have yet begun when applying for a bursary. Nor can it be completed before our decision making date (which is typically 9-12 weeks after the deadline).

This is because we are unable to fund retrospectively. Unless of course you are applying for a second or third year.

You are permitted to apply for more than one course or training opportunity within a single bursary application, provided it aligns with your overall skill development plan. Training could look like:

• apprenticeship-style training with a craftsperson/people;
• attending a specialist training course (accredited or non-accredited);
• undertaking a self-directed programme of training with one or more craftspeople;

We will need you to explain why you have chosen what you have, and how each course of training may develop or differ.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the application process, you can email Rae who will be happy to offer guidance: [email protected] 

Application deadlines vary, and new rounds open periodically throughout the year.

It is crucial to check the Heritage Crafts training bursary page on the website for the most up-to-date information on application opening and closing dates. These are accurate once we have opened applications. 

Please be aware that these bursaries are highly competitive. We typically receive a very large number of applications for a limited number of awards. While we wish we could support every deserving applicant, this is simply not possible due to funding limitations. We encourage all eligible individuals to apply, but please understand that success is not guaranteed. 

If your application is unsuccessful, you can reapply in future rounds. We encourage you to review your application, consider any feedback you may have received (if applicable), and refine your proposal for subsequent submissions.

Please bear in mind that each new application is assessed independently by a panel of craft experts, so while addressing any previous feedback is certainly beneficial, it doesn’t guarantee success in subsequent rounds.

Timing is imperative.

Our funding opportunities are focused on preserving traditional hand skills within the British Isles, and therefore applicants must be based in the UK and intend to continue practicing their craft in the UK. 

We are sorry if this means you are not eligible to apply.

The courses we look to fund through our training bursaries can in-person tuition or online courses or a combination of the above, though in-person is preferable as the experience is likely to be richer. 

Yes we do. In any case of concerns or queries raised about the safeguarding or the Safeguarding Policy for either trainees or trainers, then please contact Mary who is our Safeguarding Lead by email on: [email protected]