Shepherds Bookbinders, one of the UK’s longest-established bookbinders, has been announced as one of four recipient businesses which will benefit from The Macallan’s recently launched Artisan Apprenticeship Fund.

The hand bookbinding business, based on Rochester Row in the City of Westminster, London, will receive funding awarded by The Macallan to enable the training of an existing member of staff.

Under the guidance and expertise of bookbinder Jonathan Powell at the firm’s Wiltshire barn workshop, the apprentice will learn all the key skills of a journeyman forwarder, focusing primarily on box-making and bookbinding in cloth and leather, as well as gold finishing, repairing paper, and designing books.

Combining practical and theoretical skills, the apprenticeship will involve dedicated training days at the bench, as well as undertaking City & Guilds courses in bookbinding up to a Level 3 Diploma.

The apprentice will be supported with three external visits to relevant institutions and binderies each year, in order to expand on their training, learning and development, in addition to weekly work experience days in the London bindery.

Following completion of the three-year apprenticeship, the staff member will have gained the skills required to become a qualified journeyman bookbinder.

Shepherds Bookbinders has been allocated a £60,000 portion of £260,000 funding from The Macallan Artisan Apprenticeship Fund.

Shepherds Bookbinders has been based in Rochester Row, in the City of Westminster for more than 25 years, specialising in bookbinding, box-making, restoration and conservation of books, as well as retailing papers, stationery and specialist materials from their Gillingham Street retail store. The workshops incorporate the long-established firms of Zaehnsdorf, founded in 1842, and Sangorski & Sutcliffe, established in 1901.

Alison Strachan, Managing Director at Shepherds Bookbinders, said:

“The traditional bookbinding skills we require of our bookbinders are wide-ranging and complex, and this funding will allow us to fully train a young person in all aspects of the craft. The Artisan Apprenticeship Fund is a fantastic initiative, and we are so grateful to The Macallan for helping us to ensure these skills will continue to thrive.”

The Artisan Apprenticeship Fund is delivered through The Macallan Artisan Collective, a creative forum for likeminded master makers to network, exchange ideas, innovate and collaborate via live gatherings and digital events. Established in 2021, it champions and celebrates the artisans, their philosophies, knowledge and skills as well as the critical role they play in local and global economies.

In the same year, The Macallan created the Artisan Apprenticeship Fund in recognition of the need to preserve and safeguard legacy crafts, trades, skills, and values to support employment for generations to come.

Scottish businesses Alexander Manufacturing, Powderhall Bronze and Glasstorm will also benefit from a share of funds to support and perpetuate key generational skills and crafts.

Proceeds for the fund have been generated primarily through the auction of The Reach 81 Years Old single malt, the oldest whisky ever released in the history of The Macallan.

A one-of-a-kind special edition of this release, crafted from a single, sherry seasoned oak cask, was sold at Sotheby’s London in October. The auction lot featured an exclusive bottle of The Macallan The Reach, encased in a display cabinet lined in red leather. This reflects the red thread that has run through the brand since it was founded almost 200 years ago, rather than the traditional cream leather which features on the original whisky release.

Elizabeth McMillan, Head of Insight & Sustainability at The Macallan, said:

“At The Macallan, we thrive as a local brand with a global presence because of the remarkable communities and networks with whom we enjoy strong interdependent relationships built on shared value creation. Shepherds Bookbinders shares our dedication to craftsmanship and quality, and we are proud to play a part in helping to train and guide the next generation of artisans within this established business.

“The Macallan holds a deep affinity with all luxury artisans and master makers. Dedication to creativity, craftsmanship, innovation and collaboration are a key part of our brand DNA, and through The Macallan Artisan Collective and Artisan Apprenticeship Fund, we aim to establish a legacy of positive action by fostering meaningful progress for our key communities through partnerships, collaborations, and fundraising. Preserving and safeguarding legacy crafts, trades, skills, and values is an essential part of this, to help support employment for generations to come.”