Our future is our trade

The Cordwainers’ Company is very proud of the strength of its ongoing relationships with the British footwear industry.

Our charitable support of organisations helping those working in shoemaking industries go hand-in-hand with the Company’s efforts to nurture new talent in these fields.

750 Anniversary Fund – grants available now

The 750 Anniversary Fund was established to mark 750 years of the Cordwainers Company.  The Fund provides three grants of up to £1,500 annually, including one, the Stuart Weitzman Grant, for a footwear designer.  The application deadline for the current round is 1^st March 2026.

The Fund can support recent graduates or individuals starting their footwear/leatherwork career to participate in work placements or internships, or footwear/leatherwork entrepreneurs to participate in training courses which will develop their professional skills and assist with the growth of their new business.

For further information about the grant scheme, contact the Cordwainers’ Charity Manager: charity@cordwainers.org.

British Footwear Association (BFA)

The Cordwainers’ Company works closely with the BFA to improve the training, ongoing support and guidance for those working in the British footwear industry as well as increasing the profile and promoting the work of British footwear designers and manufacturers. Previous charitable grants have supported the development of shoe manufacturing apprenticeships, British footwear industry research projects, workshops and an accelerated development programme.

Footwear Industry Trust (FIT)

The Cordwainers’ Company has been supporting FIT (formerly Footwear Friends and the Footwear Benevolence Society) since 1845. Charitable grants have included the Cordwainer Award for Innovation, and more recently support for the FIT hardship fund.

Heritage Crafts Association

Heritage Crafts is the national charity set up to celebrate, support and safeguard traditional craft skills, and to facilitate a national conversation about their importance to everyone now and in the future.  The Cordwainers have provided a training bursary to Eleni Kai to train in hand-welted shoe making with bespoke shoemaker Jim McCormack.

Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST)

QEST was established in 1990 by the Royal Warrant Holders Association to sustain Britain’s cultural heritage, by supporting the training and education of talented and aspiring craftspeople. The Cordwainers have supported scholarships, apprenticeships and awards for Maud van den Broecke with Deborah Carré of Carréducker; Oluwamuyiwa Fadairo at John Lobb; Sabina de Oliveira Lima with master shoemaker Daniel Wegan; and William Efe-Laborde with master shoemaker Lucy Smith.