Heritage Crafts Emerging Building Craftsperson Award
SPAB is delighted to announce its collaboration with Heritage Crafts and sponsorship of the Emerging Building Craftsperson of the Year Award 2026.
For over 100 years SPAB has trained generations of building craftspeople as well as architectural professionals to shape the repair of old buildings with sensitivity and skill.
For almost 40 years our flagship Fellowship programme designed to broaden the skills and experience of craftspeople has offered unique opportunities to three or four mid-career craft experts, to develop their approach to repair and learn about other traditional craft techniques, through site visits guided by experienced conservation professionals.
For the first time, SPAB is partnering with Heritage Crafts by sponsoring this award. We are looking for someone in the first five years of their practice who has made an outstanding start to their career whether working in stonemasonry or gauged brickwork, timber framing or carpentry, heritage tiling or plastering or any other craft focused on the construction, conservation or repair of buildings or structures.
We want to recognise those who are not only highly skilled but are also raising the profile of their craft. Perhaps they have overcome setbacks to achieve success and are dedicated to the long-term future of heritage building skills.
There is a £1,000 prize for the winner to be presented at Heritage Crafts Awards winners’ reception in November alongside similar awards in crafts such as stained glass, metalwork and green woodworking.
Matthew Slocombe, SPAB CEO says, “SPAB has always championed the traditional skills needed to look after our old buildings. Old buildings contribute positively to the world’s beauty and sustainability. When cared for well, they improve the quality of people’s lives and promote wellbeing. SPAB is delighted to support Heritage Crafts through this award celebrating our traditional craft skills which are essential for historic buildings and those that care for them.”
Deadline: Friday 21 August 2026 (at 5pm). Nominations can be made using the online form or in video or audio format.
More details Heritage Crafts Emerging Building Craftsperson Award
Image: Viv Walker SPAB Fellow thatching 2025 © Tom Stevens
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