Award for Excellence 

The 40 week Award for Excellence offers unique and valuable opportunities for those wishing to develop their skills towards a practical career in stained glass. 

Recipients will be placed in high quality working studios where they will undertake mentored work experience on actual  projects with the supervision, guidance and tuition of experienced professionals. This enhanced work experience programme provides individual tuition tailored to the needs and interests of the award winner. It is suitable for those with an interest in contemporary and traditional techniques and in conservation. Subsistence financial support is included.

It can be challenging, even difficult, being away from your home, working what may be long hours, finding yourself less skilled than those around you, needing to do things you have never done before, however the rewards are great. 

Since 1995 the Company has given 36 work placement awards. At least 28 of the recipients are currently working in glass today. Click here for a list of previous winners of the Award for Excellence.

For details of entry for the 2013 Award please click here


Michelle Dawson working on Patrick Reyntiens' glass for Taunton
at John Reyntiens' Urban Glass Works.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Dawson.

“The Award for Excellence 2008-2009 has given me the opportunity to work in stained glass studios across Britain and Germany. The forty weeks of placements have been inspirational. Meeting and working with craftspeople and artists has allowed me to develop technical skills, gain experience in conservation and develop my own design work. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time and am looking forward to developing my career in glass.” Michelle Dawson (Award for Excellence 2008-9)

The aim of all the Glaziers’ Company’s Awards is to raise standards of work within the craft, particularly in the U.K., by offering additional learning experiences  to enhance the skills of a potential worker.  Applications are invited from individuals within five years of completion of their training who are intending to undertake a long term career in stained glass, preferably within the U.K.

Congratulations go to Eleanor Leahy for winning the Award for Excellence 2012-2013. Eleanor has begun her work placement period with Jonathan Cooke's glass painting class and a placement at Salisbury Cathedral Stained Glass studios. She will also be placed at Holy Well Glass, Cathedral Studios in Canterbury , Barley Studios in York and various distinguished German studios. Thanks go to the studios for hosting her.


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