Grants available for leather manufacturing apprenticeships
Industry representative body Leather UK has encouraged leather manufacturers in England to act quickly and bid for apprenticeship funding.
Grants from the foundation that London livery company The Leathersellers runs are available to train a new cohort of up to six tanners. The Leathersellers Foundation has ringfenced £72,000 and hopes to fund six grants of £6,000 per annum for two years for new apprentices.
With the closure of the University of Northampton’s Institute for Creative Leather Technologies in 2025 and the closure of one of the UK’s biggest tanneries, Pittards, in 2023, The Leathersellers said opportunities for people to enter the tanning industry in England had been greatly reduced. It described this as “a major concern”.
It also said that the industry was in danger of losing a formal ‘leather craftsperson’ qualification. This recognised qualification exists, but is not being used by the industry. “We want to convene a group of tanneries to take on apprentices simultaneously to ensure the continuation of this qualification and bring in a new cohort of trained tanners,” the organisation said.
It is leather manufacturing companies rather than individual candidates that must apply. Businesses that apply can be of any size, but must be based in England. They must apply by 16.00 hours on January 30, 2026.
Image: Cotmarsh Tannery.
