Cash grants to help budding craftsmen (From York Press)
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Cash grants to help budding craftsmen
7:48am Wednesday 25th January 2012 in Jobs News
BUDDING craftsmen in the York area are being offered a helping hand in the form of grants and bursaries worth a total of £11,000.
The awards are being offered by the York Foundation for Conservation and Craftsmanship, which says it is particularly keen to support the taking on of new apprentices and trainees.
A spokesman said this would include someone starting out or part way through a three-year apprenticeship, or someone not yet in a trade or profession but, having had some basic skills training or relevant experience needs further skills to qualify.
He said that in 2011, the foundation made eight awards ranging in value from £500 to £3,000, with the winners including a stonemason, a silversmith, two MA students in stained glass conservation and a roofing contractor.
He said bursaries would be available this year for up to £1,500 each to further the knowledge and skills of craftsmen and conservators at various stages of their careers.
He said: “Bursaries of up to £3,000 are offered to encourage and assist established craftsmen and conservators to take on a new apprentice or trainee.
“Applications will be judged on merit and need, and there are no restrictions on who may apply. Employers may apply on behalf of employees. Bursaries will not generally be awarded to assist the funding of a student’s undergraduate degree or equivalent course.”
He said preference would be given with individual applications to those seeking training or advanced skills in specialities in short supply.
The spokesman said that the £11,000 was made up of £7,000 from the foundation’s own Bursary Fund and £4,000 from three organisations who supported its aims: the York Company of Merchant Taylors, the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Freemasons and the Historic Houses Association’s Yorkshire region.
• Application forms and guidance notes can be obtained from the Secretary of the Foundation by emailing conservationyork@hotmail.com or by writing to The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, Fossgate, York YO1 9XD. The closing date for applications is March 31.
