Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust Limited

The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), established in 1990 as the charitable arm of the Royal Warrant Holders Association to celebrate its 150th anniversary and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's 90th birthday, advances education and sustains excellence in traditional and contemporary UK crafts. With patrons including Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III, QEST's mission champions British craftsmanship for cultural, economic, and social benefit, emphasizing diversity, equity, inclusivity, stewardship, and intergenerational skill transmission. It uniquely transforms careers of talented makers through targeted scholarships, grants, and apprenticeships, having supported around 900 individuals across 130 disciplines with 40–50 awards annually, boasting 90% alumni retention and 65% teaching others.

QEST exclusively funds UK-resident individuals aged 18+ committed to craft careers—not organizations or communities—across disciplines like ceramics, glassblowing, luthiery, textiles, conservation, and rural skills. Its three streams include Scholarships (up to £18,000 for mid-career/established makers), Emerging Maker Grants (up to £10,000 for those with ≤4 years' practice), and Apprenticeships (up to £12,000 over 1–3 years for master-apprentice training), covering tuition, mentoring, college courses, and workplace learning to foster excellence and sector renewal.

Eligible applicants submit online forms during biannual windows (Spring: Jan–Feb; Autumn: Jul–Aug), with the next deadline at 5pm on 13 August 2025; multi-stage assessment (pre-review, panels, interviews) leads to decisions in June/December. No income, entity, or religious restrictions apply beyond UK residency.

QEST excludes business startups, living expenses, studios, equipment, materials, or core organizational costs, distinguishing itself as the UK's premier craft education funder with rigorous focus on pivotal skill-building, long-term impact, and underrepresented makers for enduring heritage sustainability.