Preserving Craft, Nurturing Talent

We are proud to announce that Cox London has once again received the 2026 Princess Royal Training Award, presented by HRH The Princess Royal and the City & Guilds Foundation.

The award recognises organisations that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to learning and development. At Cox London, investing in people, nurturing creativity and preserving specialist craft skills remain at the heart of everything we do.

“Now is the moment to actively support skills and creativity, to invest in making, learning and cultural exchange. When we value skills and creativity, we protect our shared humanity and strengthen society itself.” Nicola Cox FCGI

The Princess Royal Training Award, presented by HRH The Princess Royal and the City & Guilds Foundation, was established in 2016 to celebrate organisations that recognise the value of investing in learning and development.

Each year, the awards recognise organisations whose training and skills development programmes have delivered exceptional results. In 2026, just 56 programmes from 132 applications received this prestigious recognition, including Cox London.

This award reflects our longstanding commitment to nurturing talent, supporting apprenticeships and ensuring traditional craft skills are passed on to future generations.

At a time when many traditional skills are at risk of being lost, we believe it is our responsibility not only to practise these crafts, but to pass them on.

Cox London fosters an environment in which craftspeople can realise their potential, develop confidence in their abilities and continually refine their skills. In many areas of the business, extensive technical training enables artisans to develop and progress quickly, eventually gaining the confidence to pass on their knowledge of traditional and ancient crafts to new members of the team.

Cox London's ongoing mission is to attract like-minded artists and makers whom we can mentor, nurture and support as they develop their practice, while preserving heritage skills and a spirit of curiosity for future generations.

The distinct quality of artistry and craftsmanship we achieve is the result of a diverse team of experienced artists, engineers, designers and finishing experts working together with shared purpose. Beyond our own workshop, we are proud to support British craft charities that share this commitment to preserving traditional skills.

In addition to the work we do at Cox London, we support and work with several British craft charities with the same mission.

Heritage Crafts

Heritage Crafts is the national charity for traditional heritage crafts. Working in partnership with government and key agencies, the charity provides a focus for craftspeople, groups, societies and guilds, as well as individuals who are concerned about the loss of traditional craft skills, helping to create a healthy and sustainable future for these trades.

With a mission to educate and inspire others in traditional making, Heritage Crafts is the creator of the Red List of Endangered Crafts, a register of traditional crafts considered at risk due to a declining number of practitioners. By raising awareness of these threatened skills, the charity helps safeguard an important part of our cultural heritage. Cox London actively seeks to preserve these crafts, including fabric flower making, using the techniques and skills of a traditional milliner.

The Creative Dimensions Trust

The Creative Dimensions Trust is a unique charity dedicated to helping talented young people develop practical creative and craft skills through fully funded workshops, work experience and mentoring opportunities.

What makes the charity unique is its focus on practical, hands-on learning. By connecting young people, particularly those from underrepresented communities, with industry professionals, it provides valuable opportunities to explore careers in design and craftsmanship.

In April 2026, we opened the doors to our North London atelier and welcomed a group of students to take part in a series of workshops, learning traditional metalworking skills by creating their own miniature Floral Display piece. Guided by our skilled artisans, they experienced every stage of the process, from fabrication through to patination.

Receiving the Princess Royal Training Award is a tremendous honour, but for us it represents something greater than recognition alone. It reflects our belief that craftsmanship flourishes when knowledge is shared, curiosity is encouraged and people are given the opportunity to develop their skills. As custodians of traditional making, we remain committed to nurturing the next generation of artists and makers, supporting the wider craft community, preserving heritage skills and ensuring that these remarkable traditions continue to thrive for generations to come.