The Wool Innovation Prize is to be offered annually to any individual who shows the most innovative use of wool in any commercially viable application. A prize of up to £10,000 will be awarded together with a merit certificate to the winner, which will be presented at a City livery dinner.
The prize will be promoted through a number of magazines, agricultural shows, Textile Societies and research organisations. Applicants should apply on line through the Campaign for Wool. The winner will be announced at the end of September every year.
The prize is being awarded by the Worshipful Company of Woolmen and the Company of the Merchants of the Staple of England Charitable Trust.
Background
The Worshipful Company of Woolmen, one of the oldest livery companies in the City, and The Company of the Merchants of the Staple of England, a national livery company based in York believe that they should do more for the industry from whence they came, namely the Wool Industry. Both have very long pedigrees going back to 1180 for the Woolmen and 1283 for the Staple.
The Industry has suffered long term decline in the UK over many years. There are now some signs that the industry is beginning to show an upturn and both Companies wish to recognise this and make a contribution to supporting innovation in the use and application of wool.
The Prize
The prize will be awarded annually to any individual who shows the most innovative use of wool in any application that is considered commercially viable and subject to the project being of sufficient originality and quality. Open to individuals using wool in apparel, non-apparel, agricultural, horticultural, medical, and industrial applications.
The winner will need to be able to show that the innovation will be developed from the United Kingdom, although the nationality of the individual is irrelevant.
Identifying and assessing the applicants
The prize will be promoted through a number of sources with close connections to the industry, design and fashion.
Interested individuals should contact the Campaign for Wool on innovation@campaignforwool.org (Attention Gill Dawson). They will be sent an application form to be completed. Once completed it should be returned to the Campaign for Wool.
Once the application form is returned to the Campaign for Wool, it will be assessed. Those shortlisted will be asked to come to an interview. The detail of this process is shown in Appendix A.
Award
The award for the best applicant will be up to £10,000. A framed certificate would also be presented to the winner.
The closing date for the Wool Innovation Prize will be 30th June annually. The winner will be announced by 30th September with the winner being presented their prize at a livery dinner in London in November or early December.
Further Information
For further information please contact Gill Dawson at the following email address:
innovation@campaignforwool.org
Appendix A: – application process – timeline
1. Interested parties email innovation@campaignforwool.org for an application form
2. Form is filled in and returned to the same email address
3. When closing date is reached (30th June), submissions to be agreed by a shortlisting panel
4. Shortlisting takes place
5. Finalists for then invited to an interview – maximum of 6
6. Prize offered (by 30th September) and presented at a feast in London in November / December
Text and image copyright: The Worshipful Company of Woolmen, The Company of the Merchants of the Staple of England
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