Heritage Crafts Association

Name

Heritage Crafts Association

Legal name

The Heritage Crafts Association

Website

https://heritagecrafts.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Craft Preservation Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

akta.pro primary industry

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Traditional & Indigenous Crafts Lessons (Heritage Skills, Folk Arts) (THAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Heritage craft preservation
• Endangered crafts
• Craft training bursaries
• Makers directory
• Craft advocacy charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership subscriptions providing access to craft community, directory listings, and organizational benefits. Membership runs for 12 months from date of payment.
2. Donations and benefactor scheme: One-time and recurring donations from supporters. Additional Benefactor scheme for enhanced support levels.
3. Shop sales: E-commerce sales through Shopify store selling craft-related products and items from makers.
4. Event tickets: Revenue from event registrations and workshops. Refund policy applies within 30 days of event.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Heritage Crafts Association is the UK national charity (CIO 1159208) that celebrates, supports, and safeguards traditional craft skills. It operates a Makers Directory of heritage craftspeople, publishes the Red List of Endangered Crafts, distributes grants through the Endangered Crafts Fund, awards training bursaries, runs the Heritage Crafts Awards program, and operates the #matchMAKER platform for work-based training and entry-level employment in heritage crafts.

Product overview

Heritage Crafts Association operates as a charitable organization (CIO 1159208) with a unified mission to celebrate, support, and safeguard traditional UK craft skills. The organization functions as a platform-and-services model, combining an online Makers Directory (featuring hundreds of registered craftspeople across ten craft categories) with direct support programs including Training Bursaries, the Endangered Crafts Fund (grants), and Heritage Crafts Awards. The #matchMAKER platform provides job and training matching services, while the Craft Inventory and Red List of Endangered Crafts serve as authoritative reference resources. Additional offerings include the Living Heritage Community Support Hub, an e-commerce shop, and membership/benefactor programs. The organization's patron is His Majesty King Charles III.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Makers Directory An online directory showcasing craftspeople across the UK, organized by craft categories (Basketry, Ceramic, Metal, Textiles, Wood, Leather, Glass, Stone, Paper, and Other crafts), allowing users to discover and contact heritage craft practitioners.
• Red List of Endangered Crafts An authoritative assessment and publication categorizing 285 UK heritage crafts by risk level (extinct, critically endangered, endangered, etc.), used to identify and prioritize crafts requiring conservation support.
• Training Bursaries Financial support program providing bursaries for individuals to learn heritage craft skills, with 131 training bursaries awarded to date.
• Endangered Crafts Fund Grant program distributing financial support to practitioners of endangered crafts, with 95 grants distributed to support craft preservation and skills transmission.
• Heritage Crafts Awards Annual awards program recognizing excellence in heritage crafts, including category-specific awards such as Wales Maker of the Year, Emerging Upholsterer of the Year, and Emerging Stained Glass Maker of the Year.
• #matchMAKER Platform Online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities in heritage crafts, hosted by Heritage Crafts and supported by Soane Britain, connecting employers with aspiring craftspeople.
• Craft Inventory Comprehensive listing of 285 UK heritage crafts maintained by the organization, including those deemed at-risk, documenting the breadth of traditional craft skills in Britain.
• Living Heritage Community Support Hub Resource center providing support and information for practitioners of living heritage crafts.
• Heritage Crafts Shop Online shop selling crafts, craft-related products, and items from heritage craft practitioners.
• Membership Program Annual membership program allowing individuals to join the craft community and support the organization's mission to preserve heritage crafts, with benefits including access to resources and networking.
• Benefactor Scheme Enhanced support program for individuals providing additional financial contributions to Heritage Crafts' conservation work.

Quantifiable outcome

• 285 UK heritage crafts catalogued including at-risk crafts
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Soane BritaincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner supporting the #matchMAKER platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities in heritage crafts.
• British Society of Master Glass PainterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting the Emerging Stained Glass Maker of the Year Award, bringing expertise in stained glass conservation and heritage craft recognition.
• House of Sonnaz LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting the Emerging Upholsterer of the Year Award with master upholsterer expertise and industry recognition.
• Hiut Denim CocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting Wales Maker of the Year Award, sharing commitment to preserving traditional manufacturing skills and supporting local maker communities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Prince's Foundation: King Charles III-linked charity delivering heritage skills training and traditional craft education. Shares the royal-patron linkage and the crafts-skills mission, but operates a broader training and built-heritage remit.
• Historic England: Public body that protects and promotes England's historic environment. Comparable as a heritage-sector authority with strong government ties, though its focus is on built heritage rather than intangible craft skills.
• The Royal Society of Arts (RSA): Royal-led charity focused on arts, manufacturing, and social innovation. Comparable as a royally-patronised, mission-driven organization blending heritage, craft, and education, though operating at a much broader societal scale.
• National Trust: Largest UK heritage conservation charity, operating historic properties and craft-tradition programming. Overlaps with Heritage Crafts on heritage preservation, public engagement, and property-based craft demonstrations.
• Arts Council England: National development agency for arts and culture, distributing public funding across the creative sector. Operates as a broader incumbent that channels grant funding into crafts organizations including Heritage Crafts-adjacent bodies.

Direct peers

• Crafts Council: The UK national development agency for contemporary craft, with a near-identical remit of supporting makers, training, and public engagement. Closest functional peer to Heritage Crafts, though its lens is broader and includes contemporary rather than purely heritage crafts.
• Museums Association: Professional membership body for the museum and heritage sector in the UK. Comparable as a membership-driven heritage advocacy organization supporting preservation, training, and policy engagement.
• Heritage Alliance: Coalition of heritage organizations in England that advocates for heritage policy and funding. Highly comparable as a heritage-sector advocacy and umbrella body working alongside major trusts and government departments.
• Cockpit Arts: London-based incubator and workspace provider for independent makers and craft businesses. Directly comparable in supporting craft livelihoods, with overlap in training, maker visibility, and craft-sector advocacy.

Regional players

• American Folk Art Museum: US-based museum dedicated to folk and self-taught art including traditional craft traditions. Comparable in mission to preserve and celebrate heritage craft, though US-focused and operating as a museum rather than a membership charity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/heritage_crafts
• Facebookfacebook.com/heritagecraftsassociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heritage-crafts-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/heritagecrafts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Heritage Crafts Association