A career in craft...

Craft is the process of making things. According to Rosy Greenless, director of the Crafts Council, who writes on the Victoria & Albert Museum's website, 'it is an intellectual and physical activity where the maker explores the infinite possibilities of materials and processes to produce unique objects'.

People working in the crafts industry use creativity and innovative ideas or traditional techniques. The sector is wide-ranging and there are many different kinds of jobs available, such as engraving, glass-making and pottery.

The market for craft, which is made up of existing as well as potential buyers, is fairly large. More than 11 million people in the UK (29 per cent of the total population) make up the craft market, according to figures from the Crafts Council.

Issues affecting craft 

However, there are many issues besieging the sector, including the lack of suitable education in the field. As craft is still largely recognised as a hobby rather than a career, there is a declining level of craft education in schools and colleges.
 
Entry into the sector is complicated by the fact that there are fewer evening and weekend courses available now. It is also thought that craft has been marginalised in relation to fine art, as the sector has a dearth of qualifications that proliferate in performing or visual arts – however, the market for original craft exceeds that for original visual arts by 2.1 million people.
 
There are more than 70 skills areas in the craft industry. However, only some are recognised by the government's Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities (SIC) codes, which are used to classify businesses according to the type of economic activities they are engaged in.
 
This is because the government has no SIC codes for craft by itself. Instead, codes exist for economic activities that may or may not include craft aspects. As a result, there are a number of craft skills that have been omitted, including furniture design, boatbuilding and thatching.
 
However, research by the Crafts Council shows that there is potential to increase the market for original crafts by as much as two thirds. At present, the total market is worth £883 million. As a result, people interested in careers in craft have the potential to increase their earnings and turnover by a large margin. 

A flexible and rewarding career 

According to research by Creative and Cultural Skills, 87 per cent of the sector is made up of sole traders and micro-businesses (those employing less than five people).
 
Many craftspeople prefer this form of independent working as they can decide their own hours to fit around deadlines. They can also then choose to work from home, in offices or in studios and workshops, making craft a flexible and an extremely suitable career for people with busy schedules.
 
Creativity and being good with one's hands are key attributes for beginning a career in crafts as buyers often prefer unique and bespoke items. As a result, makers need to design and develop new items on an ongoing basis. Many makers find this to be the most rewarding part of their jobs, as they are continually challenged.

Future developments in the craft sector

The crafts industry is currently undergoing changes which have been brought about by wider developments. IT is increasingly being used in craft as new technologies emerge, while climate change and sustainability issues have created a market for eco-friendly craft items.
 
Increasing uptake of technology in craft has led to a number of questions being raised in the industry. One of the key points under discussion is whether unique objects can be created if objects are built and designed through digital processes rather than traditional techniques.
 
Meanwhile, a number of emerging business models are transforming the industry. These include PhD research, which is focusing on developing new technologies for materials and processes. Makers, especially those working as sole traders or in micro-businesses, are being challenged to contribute to the development of these models.
 
According to the Crafts Council 'there is enormous potential to increase the market for cutting-edge work, or contemporary fine craft, both through the development of serious collectors and through encouraging new buyers.'