Crafting Business programme for makers

A new creative business training programme for emerging makers.

Have you got a business idea you need support with? Do you need help navigating the complexities of managing your finances, want to sharpen up your presentation skills, or know more about scaling up your business? The Crafting Business programme is here to help you.

We will be selecting 26 makers to take part in this free training programme which will take place between 6 May — 7 September 2021. The deadline for applications is midnight 31 March 2021.

Crafting Business is part of a Crafting Europe project funded by Creative Europe. Eight countries (including the UK) will be delivering their own respective training programmes in 2021 supporting up to 200 makers across Europe. Read more about Crafting Europe

Who is the Crafting Business training programme for?

This training programme is for makers based in the UK who have started a new craft business within the past 4 years – this is defined as when you start selling or when you sign up with HMRC. You could be a:

• recent graduate
• self-taught or attended short courses
• a maker changing the direction of their business

The training programme includes

• Eight modules delivered via workshops on Zoom, resources and self-directed learning from May to September 2021 that cover

1. Induction day
2. Business visioning and modelling
3. Finance
4. How to present you and your business
5. How to access funding support
6. Product development
7. Scaling enterprise and production options, access to international trade
8. Business plan presentation and reflections

• Three group sessions covering

1. Mental health awareness
2. Identifying wants and needs
3. Peer-support coaching tips

Costs and benefits

• Crafting Business is a free training programme for those selected. The value of the training is £2,500.
• All selected participants will also be approved for the Crafts Council Directory and will be offered a two-year membership for the price of one year (£60 which can be paid monthly).

How to apply

• There will be a short application form hosted on Survey Monkey Apply (an online application platform)
• Once you create an account on Survey Monkey Apply there will be guidance withing the Crafting Business opportunity to help you submit your application.
• You can submit a filmed description instead of written description and you can nominate someone to help you complete your application form.
• We will be offering free short advice sessions between 1 – 31 March which you can book through the Crafting Business opportunity on Survey Monkey Apply.
• The deadline for applications is 9am (BST) 1 April 2021.

Crafts Council business support

In 2020 we conducted a review of all services supporting craft businesses using data from the last five years.  This came at a crucial movement when the pandemic emphasized the how vital our craft business support work is.  A move to providing more digital resources and the review recommendations highlighted that our support needs to be more inclusive.

We remain committed to supporting craft businesses. We will do this through our Directory membership, online resources, webinars and through our partnerships in the UK and internationally.  2021 sees a focus on marketing at a time when we are ever more reliant on digital platforms and channels. The new Crafting Business programme prioritises developing skills of aspiring craft entrepreneurs.