Heritage Building and Conservation Craft Skills Bursary

Derbyshire’s rich heritage is embedded in its landscape, buildings and industry, shaped by centuries of making that connect its people to the place.

The county has a great wealth of historic buildings that all require a specific set of craft skills and expertise to conserve, and these skills are increasingly difficult to find.

With funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund, Derbyshire County Council is launching a new bursary scheme, as part of Derbyshire Makes History, to help increase key hand skills in heritage building and conservation, such as lime plastering, stone masonry, and heritage joinery.

With support from some Derbyshire’s key heritage and conservation partners, including the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust and the Arkwright Society, these bursaries have been set up to help increase local skills in Derbyshire and to help subsidise the cost of training.

Only those working or living in Derbyshire are eligible to apply. Training can though take place anywhere in the country.

Funding of up to £2500 is available per applicant, with total funding available for up to 4 bursaries.

Bursaries are for:

• new entrants who have demonstrated a commitment to starting a new heritage building 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

• mid-career practitioners who need to acquire distinctly different hand skills to develop new ways of achieving commercial success

The bursary can fully fund or contribute towards the costs of:

• mentoring / training with a craftsperson/people.

• attending a specialist training course.

• 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.

• The deadline for applications is 5pm on 27th April 2026

• If you are shortlisted you may be invited for a short online interview on 5th May 2026

• All applicants will be notified the decision by 22nd May 2026

• Training must take place between June 1st 2026 and 31st May 2027