In 2020, the Boat Building Academy was granted charity status, fulfilling the long-held ambition to create the BBA Bursary scheme to be able to help the next generation of men and women builders, who would otherwise be unable to fund their training at the Academy.
The newly introduced Bursary for Women is looking to not only financially assist female students in Boat Building and furniture making but also help extinguish the stigma around women in practical skills industries such as boat building or woodworking.
The Boat Building Academy Bursary Scheme

The BBA aims to financially assist those who would not otherwise be able to fund the training by awarding bursaries.
To be eligible for the BBA Bursary you must:
- be a British Citizen
- have been offered a place on the 40-week Boat Building course.
Overview of the bursary application process:
- Request a bursary application form from the office.
- Return the completed application form to the office before the deadline.
- If your application meets the eligible criteria, you will be interviewed by the Director and at least one other Trustee. This will take place via video conference.
- The trustees will then decide whether to award a bursary and what amount will be awarded.
The number of awarded bursaries in each financial year, as well as levels of funding available, will impact whether applications are successful; or what amounts are awarded to each applicant.
Deadlines:
30 November for the February course
30 April for the August course
BBA Bursary for Women

On February 2023, we implemented the BBA Bursary for Women. A bursary scheme exclusively for women, aiming to proactively affirm that women are not only welcomed but wanted in the industry. The aim is for the bursary to facilitate access to high-level training and for women to be recognised for career development opportunities.