Awards
The Company encourages working blacksmiths within the UK to apply for a range of Company awards.
The Company encourages working blacksmiths within the UK to apply for a range of Company awards. The Award application forms can be downloaded at the link below. All applicants for the Diploma of Merit or higher awards are required to produce a portfolio of work to accompany the application. The Rules governing the Awards and a Guide to producing a portfolio can also be downloaded below.
Awards Application - Diploma of Merit & Higher Awards
Awards Application - Certificates
Rules Governing Company Awards
The award of a Bronze, Silver or Gold Medal from the Company entitles the holder to use the qualification FWCB after his name as a Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. The award of a Diploma of Merit entitles the holder to use the qualification AWCB as an Associate of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths.
The Company issues the following Foundation Awards: Certificate of Competence; Apprentice Certificate: Journeyman's Certificate and Certificate of Merit. See Awards Application Certificates for the link to the Application Form.
The Craft Committee also liaises with colleges and the Army, encouraging tutors to enter for the Company’s highly respected Licentiate award. Tutors demonstrating the appropriate level may use the qualification LWCB having been appointed as Licentiates of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths.
The Blacksmiths’ Army Cup is awarded annually and formally presented to the winner at the Michaelmas Awards Luncheon. The Stanley Allcard Cup may be awarded to a student nominated by the tutors at the National School of Blacksmithing in Hereford.
The Tonypandy Cup
In 1998, Past Prime Warden Lt Col Delwyn Dennis, presented the Tonypandy Cup to the Company. It was given in memory of Lord Tonypandy (George Thomas, Former Speaker of the House of Commons) who was an Honorary Member of the Court of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. The Cup may be awarded annually for a piece which is considered to be an outstanding example of the skill of a blacksmith or blacksmiths. A special Committee is established every year to assess the nominated works. The Tonypandy Cup is regarded as the most prestigious award given by the Company.
Previous Tonypandy Cup Winners
| Year | Winner | Winning Entry |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Jim Whitson | Main Gates and Side Gate, Edinburgh |
| 2020 | Steve Rook FWCB | Balconies at Carter Lane, London |
| 2019 | Bex Simon AWCB | Installation at Westminster Crown Court, London |
| 2018 | Stephen Lunn FWCB | Gates at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland |
| 2017 | David Tucker FWCB | The Kirk Ireton Hoard of Long Cross Coins |
| 2016 | Peat Oberon FWCB | Private Commission Gates, County Durham |
| 2015 | No Award | |
| 2014 | Andy Hopper FWCB | Private Commission handrail, The River Flows |
| 2013 | No Award | |
| 2012 | Charles Normandale FWCB | Entrance Sculptures, Southsea Town Centre |
| 2011 | No Award | |
| 2010 | Stephen Lunn FWCB | The Burial Ground Gates, Alnwick Castle |
| 2009 | BABA - Terrence Clark FWCB and Alan Dawson FWCB | The Pillar of Friendship |
| 2008 | Peter Parkinson FWCB LWCB | The Dorking Cockerel |
| 2007 | No Award | |
| 2006 | James Horrobin FWCB | The Churchill Screen, Crypt of St Paul's Cathedral |
| 2005 | Alan Evans FWCB | The Bigg Market Gates, Newcastle |
| 2004 | Paul Allen FWCB LWCB | A replica of the City of London Sword |
| 2003 | Anthony and Simon Robinson | A private commission in Dublin |
| 2002 | Phil Johnson FWCB | Entrance Canopy and Overthrow, The Scotsman Newspaper Offices Edinburgh |
| 2001 | No Award | |
| 2000 | Theo Grunwald | St Michael slaying the seven serpents, Cardiff |
| 1999 | Brian Russell FWCB and Dick Quinnell MBE CWCB | The Globe Theatre Gates |
The Neville Shulman Competition
The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths (WCB) is delighted to announce a new competition open to all UK-based blacksmiths to design and make a new piece of decorative ironwork for use at WCB luncheons and dinners in the future. The competition will be run annually until a new collection of 10 finished pieces that show the very best of the craft of the blacksmith is completed. Each prize winner will receive £1,000. The winning pieces will become the property of the WCB.
The entry may take any form but must weigh no more than 2.5 kilogrammes and fit within a 200mm cube. A maximum of two pieces may be selected each year. If the criteria and standards are not met, no pieces will be selected. We are looking for superlative examples of the blacksmith’s craft, incorporating traditional techniques along with the usual high standards associated with the WCB awards system and the static entries judged at NBCC shows.
Both functional and sculptural pieces are encouraged. This competition encourages and promotes the hot forging of iron, steel and other metals. Blacksmiths may use any method of construction, but the submission should primarily be designed and made using hot forging techniques. Gas, plasma and laser cut profiles are permitted but they must be worked as traditionally cut out profile.
2025 Competition Timing
1 August 2025 - Completed forms are to be sent to the Clerk of the Company (accompanied by 4 good quality photos).
1 September 2025 - A shortlist of pieces will be selected by the WCB and the applicants informed by the Clerk.
20 September 2025 – The shortlisted pieces will need to be delivered to a judging venue.
27-28 September 2025 – The shortlisted pieces will be judged in person over the weekend.
12 October 2025 - Non-winning work will need to be collected from the judging venue.
23 October 2025 - Winners will be announced at the WCB Michaelmas Awards Luncheon where the winning piece/s will be displayed.
If you are interested in participating, please request a Competition Brief and Entry Form from the Clerk.