The Broderers’ Company
Provides funding to three core recipients: The Royal School of Needlework, The Embroiderers’ Guild and The Grange Centre (textile projects for disabled residents).
(no website at present)
The Drapers’ Company
Has a partnership with the Industrial Trust to interest school-age students in careers in technical textiles through a prize competition. Also gives support for textile conservation.
www.thedrapers.co.uk
The Dyers’ Company
Supports the continued development of the craft of dyeing, in particular through connections with the Department of Colour Chemistry at Leeds University and the Society of Dyers & Colourists in Bradford.
www.dyerscompany.co.uk
The Framework Knitters’ Company
Has an educational trust whose income is used to provide a range of bursaries. Also supports academic departments (e.g. De Montfort University) to improve teaching.
www.frameworkknitters.co.uk
The Glovers’ Company
More involved with leather than textiles but has an interest via members who manufacture fashion gloves.
www.thegloverscompany.org
The Merchant Taylors’ Company
Provides considerable funding for textiles projects as well as in-kind support, for example using Liverymen to mentor grantees. The focus is on fashion textiles, including two designers in residence at the University of the Arts and support for the Golden Shears Awards Ceremony. The Company also supports the textiles department of a school in Deptford, in association with De Montfort University.
www.merchanttaylors.co.uk
The Weavers’ Company
Provides bursaries to schools and universities and makes grants to universities for yarn supplies and equipment. Also industry awards in the technical textiles sector.
www.weavers.org.uk
The Woolmen’s Company
Focuses mainly on sheep farming, through support of Harper Adams Agricultural College and sheep shearing competitions. Also support for academic textiles departments including Heriot-Watt University and Huddersfield.
www.woolmen.com