The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) is to collaborate with Heritage Crafts in the sponsorship of the ‘Emerging Building Craftsperson of the Year Award 2026’. For over 100 years SPAB has trained generations of building craftspeople as well as architectural professionals to shape the repair of old buildings with sensitivity and skill but this is the first time that SPAB has partnered with Heritage Crafts.

The Award is looking for someone in the first five years of their practice who has made an outstanding start to their career, whether working in stonemasonry or gauged brickwork, timber framing or carpentry, heritage tiling or plastering or any other craft focused on the construction, conservation or repair of buildings or structures.

There is a £1,000 prize for the winner to be presented at Heritage Crafts Awards winners’ reception in November alongside similar awards in crafts such as stained glass, metalwork and green woodworking. Established in 2012, the annual Heritage Crafts Awards shine a spotlight on those individuals who champion heritage crafts skills and trades. 

Heritage Crafts is a national charity set up to celebrate, support, and safeguard traditional craft skills, and to facilitate a national conversation about their importance to everyone now and in the future.

Further details about the joint Award can be found here: Emerging Building Craftsperson of the Year Award | The SPAB