The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), which is dedicated to supporting

excellence in British craftsmanship, is looking to encourage more watch and clock makers to apply for funding.

Since it was founded in 1990, QEST has awarded over £5million to 625 craftspeople working in areas ranging from horology to saddlery, silversmithing to jewellery design and many more, to enable them to further their training and expand their skills.

The next application round will be open from 10 January – 13 February 2022. Individuals can apply for up to £18,000 to further their training through college courses, vocational training or specialist one-to-one classes with a master craftsperson, or alternatively for apprenticeships of up to £12,000 to train with a master crafts person.

Seth Kennedy was the 2018 QEST Britford Bridge Trust Scholar and he used the funding to develop his pocket watch case-making skills (particularly rose engine turning for decoration) by training with two experts in the field. He explained: ‘There are only a few people in the UK making cases professionally. By bringing engine turning

in-house, I can offer a more complete service, make higher quality cases, and perform better repairs on decorated cases.’