THE MACALLAN ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF £260,000 ARTISAN APPRENTICESHIP FUND

 Proceeds from auction of The Reach will help to preserve legacy skills

The Macallan has revealed details of four recipient businesses to benefit from its recently launched Artisan Apprenticeship Fund.

Four UK firms will each receive a portion of £260,000 funding awarded by The Macallan to enable the recruitment and training of new apprentices.

Scottish businesses Alexander Manufacturing, Glasstorm and Powderhall Bronze, alongside London-based Shepherds Bookbinders, will each benefit from a share of funds to support and perpetuate key generational skills and crafts.

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 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.

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.

“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. We’re proud to play a part in training and guiding the next generation of artisans throughout Scotland and beyond.”

The Macallan Artisan Apprenticeship Fund will enable recipient businesses to attract and recruit new apprentices into key trades, as well as providing existing artisan apprentices with the opportunity to take part in specialist training and skills development programmes.

Alexander Manufacturing is a luxury garment manufacturer, based in North Lanarkshire which specialises in the production of handmade coats for the slow fashion and apparel industry. With funds in place, Alexander Manufacturing will create four new, full-time apprentice positions.

Tain-based contemporary glass studio Glasstorm specialises in hand-crafted bespoke works in glass and will use the funding to create one apprentice role.

Based in Musselburgh, East Lothian, fine art foundry Powderhall Bronze is seeking to onboard two apprentices, training one existing employee and one new team member, while Shepherds Bookbinders, based in London, will use proceeds from The Macallan Artisan Apprenticeship Fund to offer training to an existing employee.

For further information about The Macallan Artisan Collective and The Macallan Artisan Apprenticeship Fund, visit The Macallan Positive Society and Community Initiatives.

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824 on a plateau above the River Spey in north-east Scotland, The Macallan is renowned globally for its incomparable craftsmanship, creativity and innovation with each bottle of single malt whisky revealing its unique mastery of wood and spirit.

Social and environmental sustainability is at the heart of The Macallan, and as part of its commitment to establishing a positive legacy it revealed its award-winning new Distillery in 2018. Designed by internationally acclaimed architects, the building takes inspiration from the surrounding ancient Scottish hills and is located on The Macallan’s beautiful 485-acre Estate. To this day, the single greatest influence on The Macallan’s sought after portfolio of single malts is its sherry seasoned oak casks from which its whiskies derive their distinctive flavours, aromas and natural colour.

Crafted without compromise. Please savour The Macallan responsibly.

About Alexander Manufacturing

Alexander Manufacturing Ltd is a luxury Scottish garment manufacturer, located in North Lanarkshire and specialising in coat making for the luxury slow fashion and apparel industry. The garment manufacturing facility specialises in tailoring and coat making, with the company’s unique specialism producing vulcanised handmade garments.

Production Manager, Ann Clark, works alongside a talented team of skilled workers covering all aspects of coat making, handmade coat makers, machinists, cutters, and finishers. Owner, Nadia Alexander, invested in the facility following a desire to support Scottish garment manufacturing and to play a role in producing the highest quality garments, made in Scotland, and supporting Scottish mills and fabric houses. Sustainability is key to Nadia and is at the heart of all that Alexander Manufacturing does.

About Glasstorm

Established in 2005 in Tain, in the Scottish Highlands, Glasstorm is now firmly established as one of Britain’s most exciting and vibrant hot glass studios, providing a friendly, confidential and bespoke range of services including glass design, consultancy, proto-typing and manufacture.

Glasstorm is led by Brodie Nairn and Nichola Burns, who have each worked internationally within the glass industry for more than 20 years. Brodie and Nicky bring a wealth of technical knowledge and creative flair to all the projects they undertake, and the creative team has developed a reputation for being experts and pioneers in the niche field of luxury glass products.

About Powderhall Bronze

Based in Musselburgh, East Lothian, the artisans of Powderhall Bronze are experts in sculpture, metal working and engineering. The team’s combined knowledge of the casting and founding process means artisans can work closely with clients, ensuring a hand finished product of the highest quality. The foundry also offers a complete conservation and restoration service, returning existing bronze castings to their original glory. Powderhall Bronze specialises in scaling and casting of models, and in high quality metal fabrication.

About Shepherds Bookbinders

Shepherds Bookbinders has been based at Rochester Row in the City of Westminster for more than 25 years. The workshop incorporates the long-established firms of Zaehnsdorf, founded in 1842, and Sangorski & Sutcliffe, established in 1901. The bindery employs craftspeople with a broad range of traditional and modern skills, such as paper conservation, hand-sewn pages, gilt edges, fine leather covers and gold finishing.