Training bursary application form

Training bursaries will be allocated to new entrants and early-career practitioners in the UK who require financial support to gain the hand skills they need to set themselves on a path to success. Apply for up to £4,000 to start training in a heritage craft or to further develop your skills.

In this round of bursaries we are accepting applications for the following crafts:

• Fashion textiles and costume making – fashion textile crafts include, but are not limited to, dressmaking, tailoring, pattern cutting, hat making, millinery, glovemaking, fabric pleating, corsetry, and so on. Costume making can include garments and accessories made for theatre, film, television, musical performance, historical re-production, role play and so on.
• Leatherworking and tanning – crafts that feature leather as a primary material. They can include but are not limited to saddlery, shoemaking, harness making, tanning, fashion, accessory making, and so on.
• Saddlery, bridle making and harness making – can include saddle making, side saddle making, bridle making, harness making and collar making.
• Shoemaking – can include hand-stitched shoe and/or boot making.
• Stained glass making and/or conservation – includes stained glass window making, glass painting within a stained glass context, and/or stained glass conservation.
• Maritime rope and twine crafts – crafts in this context relate to both sea and inland waterways, and can include, but are not limited to, rope making, rigging, net making, fender making, and so on.
• Building crafts (Northern Ireland only) – training placements to heritage craftspeople in Northern Ireland working in the built environment sector, with its own set of criteria.

Bursaries are for:

• new entrants who have demonstrated a commitment to starting a new craft career and need to acquire the necessary hand skills;
• early-career practitioners who have not yet attained the hand skills required to achieve commercial success; or
• early- or mid-career craftspeople who need to acquire distinctly different or new hand skills to develop new ways of achieving commercial success.

You can apply for a grant for any amount up to £4,000 which can cover or contribute towards the costs of:

• 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;
• the cost of specialist tools or materials, books or study materials, or supporting travel and accommodation (no more than 30 percent of total budget).

The bursary cannot be used for:

• General living expenses
• Trainee salary
• Research
• Promotional activities or anything else.

Successful recipients will be supported by Tess Osman, the Recipient Engagement and Impact Lead, and the Heritage Crafts team. We will work with to you whilst monitoring progress and supporting you to achieve your aims.

Click here to download a copy of the questions in advance of filling out the form (reference only)

Please take the time to read through our FAQs online, which will help to answer some important commonly asked questions: Frequently Asked Questions

Not sure what we mean by heritage craft? Please have a look at our list of crafts for more information. If you have any questions about eligibility or need assistance with the application process, please get in touch with Rae Weaver, the Grants, Awards and Membership Officer at rae@heritagecrafts.org.uk well in advance of applying.

Please apply by filling out the form below. We will also accept a video application of no more than 15 minutes in length in which you address this list of questions.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 20 March 2026.

If you are new to a craft and you would like assistance with finding a trainer, you may find our Craft Map useful in finding Makers in your region who may offer training. You are also welcome to get in touch with Rae and we will do what we can to help: rae@heritagecrafts.org.uk.

We are hugely grateful to our supporters and funders to be able to offer these bursaries.

Time is precious and we don't want you to complete the application if you are not eligible for this training bursary.

If you cannot answer yes to any of the initial questions below, it is unlikely that you will be successful in your application. We hope to be as open as possible but cannot support everyone.

Unfortunately, you do not meet the eligibility requirements for a training bursary.

Please take a look at our Opportunities page to find out more about other funding that might be available to you.

If you have any questions or need further advice, please feel free to get in touch with Rae at rae@heritagecrafts.org.uk.

Society of Master Saddlers Saddlery Mentoring Scheme

If you wish, you can use £180 of your bursary funds to take part in the Saddlers’ Company's recognised Society of Master Saddlers Saddlery Mentoring Scheme, delivered remotely by phone or online. Mentoring provides structured guidance alongside practical training – for example, support with technical problem-solving, skill planning, workshop practice, pricing, or early business decisions.

Mentoring takes the form of 12 scheduled calls over 12 months, with each call/online session arranged in advance and focused on agreed topics.

Mentoring sessions should:

• Address clear learning or professional development needs
• Add value to other training (not duplicate it)
• Be realistic, proportionate, and achievable
• Support progress towards skilled, sustainable practice
• Fit within a wider learning plan.

What to expect:

• Professional guidance and perspective
• Space for reflection and planning
• Confidence and accountability

Mentoring does not provide:

• Direct skills instruction
• Work experience or referrals

Please indicate in your application and budget if you wish to include the Society of Master Saddlers Saddlery Mentoring Scheme in your application, and, if you are successful, you will be referred to the Society of Master Saddlers, who will match your specific needs with a mentor with expertise in that area.

Building Crafts (Northern Ireland only)

This training bursary is targeted at new entrants and early-career craftspeople working in building crafts in Northern Irleand who are experiencing financial hardship. It is supported by the Construction Industry Training Board Northern Ireland (CITBNI) as part of the All Ireland Heritage Skills Programme, a partnership project offering training placements to heritage craftspeople working in the built environment sector. 

The bursaries are for those working in or learning heritage crafts in Northern Ireland. Although beneficiaries should be based in Northern Ireland, it is acknowledged that they may require travel outside of Northern Ireland to undertake specialist training.

Please note: Training for this particular bursary must be completed by 31 August 2026.

By selecting 'Yes' - you are also confirming that you are based in Northern Ireland and that you understand that the training must be completed by 31 August 2026.

It is great to hear that you are eligible to apply for a training bursary. To submit the strongest application you can, it is worth gathering the details below in advance of completing the form to avoid any delays.

You are now able to save a draft of your application before submission, however we would strongly recommend you can download a copy of the questions here, so you can prepare your responses before submitting the application.

To complete an application, you will need:

• Full details of the training you would like to take part in. This could be informal one-to-one training or as part of a formal course, or a combination of both.
• Costs for the training and a breakdown of how you would use the funds.
• You will be asked to share the contact details of a referee who can provide a reference in support of your application. The referee could work for a craft organisation, or be a previous trainer/teacher. They should not be a family member or an individual you are planning on training with. Please also ensure they consent to being your reference.
• Supporting images. Up to four images to help demonstrate your skills to date as well as at least one of you making.

Click 'Next' to continue. Or save and close if you wish to continue later.

Note: The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 20 March 2026.

* Please note, we will only use this information to keep you updated about the work of Heritage Crafts, in accordance with our privacy policy. Heritage Crafts does not pass on contact details to any other individual or organisation.

If no, please take this opportunity to explore how being a member can further support both you and us as a charity. Find out more here.

Not everyone has the same opportunities in life. This section is targeted to trainees who feel (or have felt) limited or face challenges accessing or participating in their chosen craft as a result of their background or being part of under-represented group in heritage crafts. 

We believe that the value of our craft heritage comes from the diversity of skills and traditions across all of our communities. We want everyone to feel included in heritage crafts.

Please note: Even if none of these apply to you then you will still be considered on the basis of financial need

If you have already trained, please include title of course or qualification, grade, organisation or business where training took place with dates.

If you are new to craft training but feel that you have transferable skills and a passion for developing your skills, please tell us about it here.

Who will provide the training?

If you need help with finding a suitable trainer or course, please get in touch with rae@heritagecrafts.org.uk well in advance of applying.

• You might want to share why you have selected a specific trainer or training style.
• How will the training be structured to work around other commitments etc.

• For example, will there be employment opportunities with your trainer?
• Do you plan to set up your own business?

• You may apply for funding to cover a major cost (e.g. payment to the training provider/s) and a number of smaller associated costs, including tools, travel/ accommodation or materials (not more than 30% of the bursary total).
• Please note that if the bursary will be used to pay the training provider, Heritage Crafts will ask the training provider to confirm your apprenticeship/ training start date before the bursary funds are released.
• As a charity, Heritage Crafts cannot fund retrospectively (for training or support costs that has already taken place).

• If you are asking for a part-contribution to your training, please include the full financial breakdown and highlight the elements that this bursary would support
• If not the full amount, how do you intend to finance the rest?
• Please include delivery charges, VAT or other additional costs associated with purchases.

Please give the details of someone who can provide a reference in support of your application. For example, the referee could work for a craft organisation, or be a previous trainer/ teacher. They should not be a family member or an individual you are planning on training with. 

Heritage Crafts may contact the referee for further information, so please ensure they are aware you have included them in your application.

Please send up to four images:

• At least one of you making/taking part in your craft, and/or different examples of craft you have already made.

• Please provide these images as .jpeg files (no larger than 10Mb per image.)

• You can also upload PDF, spreadsheets or other supporting documents as needed.

• Please clearly label the images or documents with your full name and numbered 1 to 5 (ie. JoeBloggs1.jpg).

If you have any difficulties uploading your images, you can send them to rae@heritagecrafts.org.uk (you may need to use a free file transfer service such as WeTransfer).

In the event of being offered a bursary:

• I undertake to keep the my Heritage Crafts point of contact fully and immediately informed of all developments connected with this project
• I agree to use the bursary only for the purposes listed above
• I will keep and forward to Heritage Crafts all receipts/proof of purchases for items and costs associated with this training bursary
• I understand that I am liable for costs if accurate receipts are not supplied to Heritage Crafts for purchases made as part of the project
• The bursary and all funds will be used within 12 months of the grant offer (unless otherwise agreed with Heritage Crafts)
• I will share updates on progress of my training at key points
• I will accept (by prior appointment) a visit from Heritage Crafts staff
• I agree to images and testimonials shared being used by Heritage Crafts
• I will cooperate (where possible) with any Heritage Crafts publicity requests