Artizan International

What Artizan International does

Artizan International is a UK-registered charity (charity number 1160494) founded in 2013 and headquartered in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. It runs a social enterprise model that delivers arts, crafts, and hospitality training programmes for disabled people through training cafés, charity shops, and workshops. The Harrogate-based Artizan Life café functions as the operational flagship, combining a public-facing hospitality venue with workshop space where beneficiaries develop vocational skills alongside staff and volunteers.

The organization operates an international programme spanning Peru (Arequipa) and Ecuador (Santo Domingo), sourcing artisan products and delivering training in-country. In the UK it combines trading activities with charitable delivery; overseas it has historically run direct operations but is now restructuring its Ecuador programme around in-country partner organizations. Donor-facing activity includes an Artizan Angels recurring giving programme and an "Experiencing the Ripple Effect" podcast.

Revenue is generated through a mix of restricted and unrestricted grants, individual donations (including recurring monthly giving), retail sales from charity shops and the Harrogate café, and workshop/training income. Named backers include the National Lottery, Arts Council England, and Bettys & Taylors. The organization employs approximately 20 staff, with a broader network of volunteers and beneficiaries participating in programme delivery.

Name

Artizan International

Legal name

Artizan International

Website

https://artizaninternational.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Artizan International is a UK-registered charity that delivers arts, crafts, and hospitality training for disabled people through training cafés, shops, and workshops in the UK, Peru, and Ecuador, funded by grants, donations, and social enterprise trading.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services and Social Enterprise

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts & Culture Service/Support Organizations (Networks, Advocacy, Capacity Building) (BPAGAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA), Education Access & Quality (International Development) (BPAGABAE)

Keywords

• Disability social enterprise
• Arts and crafts workshops
• Vocational training services
• Charity fundraising programs
• Fair trade retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Harrogate

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Giving: Artizan receives donations through one-off contributions, regular monthly giving via the Artizan Angels program (starting at £3/month), and legacy gifts. 100% of donations are spent on empowering disabled people.
2. Artizan Shop Sales: The organization sells handmade products including textiles, jewellery, cards, mosaics, candles, body products, and handcrafted gifts through their Harrogate shop, online shop, and through fair trade shops around the UK. Products are made by disabled artisans in Ecuador and Peru, as well as locally in Harrogate.
3. Café Operations: The training café in Harrogate serves food and beverages made by disabled trainees. They offer catering services externally for parties and events, and cakes and bakes are available to order for private events.
4. Training and Workshop Services: Artizan provides workplace training sessions, creative workshops, and sells NCFE industry recognized qualifications. They offer space hire from £15 and receive funding from local authority for approved provider services.
5. Artizan Peru Café: The café in Arequipa, Peru, opened December 2023, is entirely staffed by people who are deaf. It serves freshly baked cakes, scones, soups, paninis, homemade lasagnas and vegetarian options, providing hospitality training while generating revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Artizan International is a UK registered charity and social enterprise that runs therapeutic arts and crafts workshops, vocational workplace training programmes, training cafés, and fair trade retail operations to empower people with disabilities. The organization delivers its services across sites in Harrogate (UK), Arequipa (Peru), and Santo Domingo (Ecuador), and funds its charitable mission through product sales, café revenue, monthly giving, and grant funding.

Product overview

Artizan International is a charitable social enterprise operating as a single unified organisation rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering consists of integrated services for disabled people: therapeutic arts and crafts workshops (Creative Workshops, Artizan Organics), vocational training cafés (Harrogate Café, Peru Café), retail operations (Artizan Shop), and international crafts training centres (Peru, Ecuador). Additional services include youth clubs (Crafty Llamas, Llama Lounge), educational outreach (Mosaics for Schools), and a monthly donation programme (Artizan Angels). The organisation also produces a podcast series titled 'Experiencing the Ripple Effect'. All services are designed to be beneficiary-led, providing skills training, social inclusion, and employment pathways for disabled individuals across the UK, Peru, and Ecuador.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Artizan Organics: Workshop sessions where disabled members make natural products including candles, hand cream, lip balms and soaps
• Artizan Café
• Crafty Llamas
• Llama Lounge
• Artizan Angels

Products and services

• Artizan Café and Creative Space (Harrogate) A South American themed training café and creative space in Harrogate that provides workplace skills training for disabled individuals, including barista training, chef skills, and customer service. Offers vocational NCFE qualifications.
• Artizan Shop A vibrant fair trade retail store in Harrogate showcasing handmade products from artisans in Ecuador and Peru, alongside items created by disabled members in Artizan Organics sessions. Offers retail skills training.
• Artizan Organics Weekly workshops where disabled members handmake high-quality natural products including candles, hand cream, lip balms, and soaps. Products are sold in the Artizan Shop to fund the wider charitable work.
• Creative Workshops Daily arts and crafts workshops for people with disabilities including art, clay, craft, textile, card making, screen printing, and mosaics. Includes wellbeing elements and social inclusion components.
• Artizan Peru (Crafts Centre & Café) Training centre in Arequipa, Peru providing crafts training in jewellery and textiles for physically disabled individuals, and hospitality skills for deaf young people. Includes a café staffed entirely by deaf employees.
• Artizan Ecuador (Crafts Training Centre) Training centre in Santo Domingo province of Ecuador providing training for people with disabilities in paper-making, jewellery, screen-printing, and sewn textiles. Products are sold in card shops across Ecuador and in UK fair trade stores.
• Crafty Llamas A free after-school club held every Monday during term time for children aged 11-15 with disabilities, providing arts and crafts activities in a supportive environment.
• Llama Lounge A youth club held every other Thursday evening for disabled young adults aged 16-25, featuring activities including disco, games, jewellery making, and social interaction opportunities. Sessions cost £5 per session and include refreshments.
• Mosaics for Schools Educational school visits where disabled artists work with children over approximately 6 weeks to create mosaics and educate about disabilities.
• Workplace Training Programme Training sessions in retail skills including customer service, stock preparation, money handling, and administrative tasks. Offers NCFE qualifications in Retail Skills.
• Artizan Catering Services External catering services available for parties and events, with cakes and bakes available to order for private events, produced by disabled trainees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 people with disabilities receive training weekly in Harrogate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• HelpFilmminorOthersCharitable media production company that uses professional filmmakers to create high-end videos and animations for charities, producing videos for Artizan International.
• Charity Excellence FrameworkminorOthersOrganization providing governance and best practice support for charities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Direct peers

• Project Ability: Glasgow-based visual arts charity supporting disabled and neurodivergent artists to develop practice, exhibit, and sell work. Comparable as a UK charity delivering art-skills training and product pathways for disabled makers.
• Heart n Soul: Disability arts charity producing co-created music, events, and visual art with learning-disabled artists across the UK. Comparable as a peer-led disability arts organisation producing creative products and public-facing programming.
• Action Space: London-based charity running visual arts workshops and studio programs for adults with learning disabilities. Direct comparable for the Creative Workshops / Artizan Organics component of Artizan's offer.
• Mind the Gap: West Yorkshire-based performing and visual arts company for learning-disabled artists. Closest geographic and thematic peer to Artizan — both deliver arts skills training and product/exhibition opportunities for disabled adults in northern England.
• Create (London): UK arts-based charity providing creative workshops for disabled and marginalised children and adults. Comparable as an arts-workshop focused disability inclusion charity with training and workshop programs.

Broad incumbents

• Mencap: National UK learning disability charity supporting people with disabilities across employment, training, and social activities. Broader incumbent serving overlapping beneficiary populations but at national scale.
• Sense: UK charity supporting people who are deafblind, deaf, or have complex disabilities through education, employment, and social programmes. Comparable as the operator of a deaf-staffed hospitality concept intersecting with Artizan Peru's deaf-staffed café.
• Leonard Cheshire: One of the UK's largest disability charities supporting disabled people across employment, education, and community inclusion globally. Comparable as a broader incumbent offering disability skills and inclusion services, though much larger scope than Artizan.

Emerging players

• Royal National College for the Blind (RNCB / Royal National College): UK specialist college providing education, vocational training, and employment pathways for visually impaired and disabled students. Comparable as a vocational-skills training provider for disabled beneficiaries with accredited qualifications.
• Equal Arts: Newcastle-based charity delivering creative arts programs for older people and people with dementia. Adjacent emerging player in the disability/accessibility arts space with smaller-scale workshop programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCExN6V3eI4X6Z5Q7Ym3p1e5A
• Facebookfacebook.com/artizancafecreative
• Instagraminstagram.com/artizancafehgte
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/artizan-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Artizan International