The Stevens Competition has been organised by members of the Craft and Competitions Committee on behalf of the Glaziers Company since the 1970's. For many years it was the only annual national design competition for stained glass and architectural glass in the UK. Until 2006 it was open to students (of any age) and young artists (30 years or less) studying or working in glass in the UK. Since 2006 the range has widened to include those within 5 years of completing their course.

Until the early 1980's the subject for the competition was chosen by the incoming Master Glazier. The location was purely imaginary, the dimensions and siting of window were devised by the Craft and Competitions Committee to be suitable for the chosen subject: e.g. 'a window suitable for the staircase of a natural history museum' or ' a memorial window to Sir Laurence Olivier suitable for the National Theatre.'

In the 1980s a Master, Jack Stone, secured a donation from a colleague to commission the First Prize winning entry. The location was to be found by the young artist concerned, Penny Winton. After considerable effort, and without guidance, Penny found a location in St Thomas' Hospital which was unaffordable. Penny asked Alfred Fisher and Phillida Shaw for advice and a nearby window proved suitable.

At this time the colleges requested that the competition become 'site specific' with a genuine location for which entrants could design, and the current practice evolved whereby a sponsor with a real location is sought by the Company for every competition. More recently we have been approached with offers of competition locations by interested organisations and individuals. It is estimated that since 1986 approximately £170,000 of commissions have been awarded to new glass artists via the Stevens Competition.

The Glaziers' Trust provides the prize money for the competition. It currently stands at £1000 (First Prize), £500.00 (Second Prize), £350.00 (Third Prize), and commendations worth £100.00 each. In addition there are two specifically funded awards worth £250.00 each, for Presentation (John Corkill) and Craftsmanship (George and Evelyn Gee).

The judging panel is selected each year by the Craft and Competitions Committee and invited by the Chairman. This normally comprises five experienced glass artists, though it has sometimes been four artists and the architect involved in the building. The Judges are usually members of the Glaziers Company and/or Associates or Fellows of the British Society of Master Glass Painters. The sponsors do not act as judges, but are invited to attend the Judging in order to see all the entries and hear the expert judges' comments.

The owners of the location or an interested individual normally provide the funding for a commission arising out of the competition. Sometimes the funding has been made available by an external organisation obtained by the Glaziers' Company e.g. the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. The sponsor is not obliged to commission the First prize winner's work. The choice of artist is entirely down to the sponsor, although (having attended the judging and listened to the expert judges) they usually choose from among the winning or commended entries. The sponsor is not under any obligation to commission an entry if they do not wish to do so.