Deadline: September 30, 2026
The British Footwear Development Trust (BFDT) is inviting applications for its annual Footwear Education and Training Grants to support individuals and companies seeking education and training opportunities that contribute to the future growth and success of the footwear industry in the United Kingdom.
The programme focuses on footwear education and training across the footwear industry, including brands, manufacturing, retail, sourcing, and wholesalers. It supports defined education and training projects that demonstrate a clear education and training need, commitment to learning, and a return on investment.
The grant programme provides funding ranging from £300 to £3,000 for theoretical and practical education and training of people engaged in or planning to work in the UK footwear industry when no other funding for training is available. Applicants must show how the proposed training aligns with their broader vision, while companies must also demonstrate that the cost cannot be met from their own resources and explain the expected impact, such as business growth, increased revenues, cost reduction, employee retention, or employee satisfaction.
The programme does not fund activities unrelated to footwear education and training, costs already paid for, business start-up expenses, loss of income, projects where other funding is available, or commercialisation activities such as marketing and sales.
Eligible applicants include individuals aged 18 or older with no upper age limit who live and work permanently in the UK footwear industry, as well as footwear industry companies registered in the United Kingdom that can demonstrate a genuine education and training need and a commitment to learning.
For more information, visit BFDT.
