ABOUT THE AWARDS

With a total prize money of over £30,000, one, or more award(s) will be allocated to innovations that are commercially ready projects, or businesses, that include one, or more, of the following:

  • Offer value to British wool farming
  • Include British wool fibre
  • Use British manufacturing
  • Indicate the potential wool volume used in year one and future years scaling up volumes

The judging panel will have discretion to make Award(s) to entrants deemed commercially viable and ready for market production.

It is important to demonstrate genuine innovation and offer a commercially viable application using wool as the principal product.

KEY CRITERIA

  • The projects should be commercially ready for market, or already in-market/in production.
  • Branding, packaging and marketing of product(s) should be in place, along with any patents.
  • Full research, trials and business plans should be in place and submitted with the entry.

KEY DATES

  • Entries Open – 2nd February 2026
  • Entries closing date – 31st July 2026
  • Presentation by shortlisted entrants of their Business Plans and interviews – 16th September 2026
  • Awards announcement – 16th September 2026 (immediately after the presentations)

APPLY HERE

On behalf of the two main sponsors the Campaign for Wool is looking forward to receiving your entry, which once completed should be emailed to innovation@campaignforwool.org and marked INNOVATION IN WOOL AWARDS.

INNOVATION IN WOOL AWARDS

The wool industry has suffered long term decline in the UK over many years. There are signs that the industry is beginning to show an upturn and the Companies, in conjunction with the Campaign for Wool, wish to recognise this and make a contribution by supporting innovation in the use and application of wool.

The Innovation in Wool Awards are awarded annually to individuals and organisations which show the most innovative use of wool in any commercially viable application.

The Award(s) amount to over £30,000 and will be granted to winning project submissions at the judges discretion and review. The winner(s) will be presented with a merit certificate, which is awarded at a City of London Livery dinner, and will benefit from a mentoring program from a Company member aligned to the project category and business guidance.

The Awards are promoted through social media, print media, agricultural shows, Textile Societies, and research organisations. Entrants are invited to apply online through the Campaign for Wool. The winners will be announced on 16th September 2026 immediately after the panel’s judgement.

The Award money is presented by the The Woolmen's Company Charitable Incorporated Organisation and Charitable Trusts of the Merchants of the Staple of England, and the Lord Barnby Foundation

The Worshipful Company of Woolmen, one of the oldest City of London Livery companies, and The Company of the Merchants of the Staple of England Charitable Trust, a Livery company now based in Yorkshire, believe that they should do more for the wool industry from whence they came. Both have very long pedigrees going back to 1180 for the Woolmen and 1283 for the Staple. The Lord Barnby Foundation was set up in 1967 with the intent of supporting charities close to Francis Vernon Willey, the 2nd Baron Barnby. He was the son of Francis Willey who had been a wool merchany, he died in 1982 leaving a legacy that continues to support textile conservation, and careers in the textile industry.

The Campaign for Wool was initiated by its Patron: King Charles III when he was the Prince of Wales in January 2008 and launched in 2010. As a serious environmentalist, His Majesty believes the natural, renewable origin and highly technical structure of wool offers many superior benefits.

The Awards are presented annually to any individual or private company which demonstrates 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. The scheme is open to individuals using wool in apparel, non-apparel, agricultural, horticultural, medical, interior, novel or other scientific and industrial wool applications.

The closing date for the Innovation in Wool Awards is the 30th June 2026. A panel comprising the three main sponsors, the Campaign for Wool and chaired by Dame Mary Archer will meet in London on 16th September 2026 and conduct interviews of the shortlisted entrants. The winner will be announced in September with the winners being presented with their Awards at a Staple dinner in York and at a Woolmen dinner in London, both in October 2026.