Passing On Horological Skills: A Call to Trainers, Workshops and Makers
“Ask not what your industry can do for you, but what you can do for your industry.”
The future of British horology depends upon the successful transfer of specialist skills from one generation to the next. Whether those skills relate to watchmaking, clock restoration, engine turning, dial making, case making, engraving, leatherwork or cabinet making, they are often learned not in a classroom but directly from experienced practitioners.
To help support that process, the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) offers a range of scholarships including funded apprenticeships, Emerging Maker Grants, and Scholarships for masters looking to expand their skills repertoire so support is available for makers of all career stage. The Emerging Maker Grants can specifically fund bespoke training opportunities for UK-based craftspeople.
Working alongside the various horological organisations, QEST is keen to encourage more applications from the horological sector and, importantly, to identify more practitioners willing to share their knowledge.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that training someone requires taking on a full-time apprentice. In reality, many successful applications involve short, focused periods of training. A specialist might spend a few days teaching a particular restoration technique, a week demonstrating engine-turning methods, or a fortnight passing on highly specialised skills developed over decades of practice.
Practitioners do not need to be registered training providers, colleges or large employers. They may be independent makers, restorers, retired professionals or small workshops. The emphasis is on sharing expertise. Training delivered through a QEST-funded programme is remunerated directly by QEST, with trainers able to set an appropriate day rate for their time and knowledge.
The opportunity extends beyond traditional watch and clockmaking. The horological world relies upon a network of specialist craftspeople whose skills contribute to the finished object. Dial artists, engravers, goldsmiths, leather strap makers, case makers, cabinet makers and others all have an important role to play and may be eligible to participate.
There are also opportunities for employers. Workshops can support members of their team in applying for funding to acquire specialist skills, bringing valuable knowledge back into the business for the benefit of colleagues and future trainees.
Importantly, while applicants must be based in the United Kingdom, the training itself can take place anywhere in the world if that is where the most appropriate expertise is located. The objective is to enable craftspeople to access the very best training available and then apply those skills within the UK craft sector.
The challenge facing horology is not simply finding people who want to learn. It is ensuring that there are enough experienced practitioners willing to teach. Most of us can identify individuals who invested time in our own development, shared knowledge generously, or opened doors that allowed us to progress. The next generation deserves the same opportunity.
Not every workshop has the capacity to take on a formal apprentice. Not every craftsperson has room for an additional bench. But almost everyone has something they could teach.
If you have specialist knowledge that could benefit another maker, or if you are interested in developing your own skills through a tailored training programme, we would like to hear from you. Equally, if you have considered these opportunities and decided not to pursue them, your feedback would be invaluable in helping us understand the barriers facing the sector.
By working together to pass on knowledge, we can help ensure that the remarkable skills which define British horology continue to thrive for generations to come.
The next QEST application window is between the 8th July and 12th August.
For more information, please visit Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Training (QEST)