30/04/2026
Applications for the 2026 Chiswick Cheese Market Cheesemaker's Grant are now open!
The Chiswick Cheese Market Cheesemakers Grant is an initiative that has been set up to encourage new cheesemakers into the business. In collaboration with the Academy of Cheese, the Chiswick Cheese Market Cheesemakers grant will be awarded to new cheesemakers to gain Academy of Cheese certifications and cheesemaking experience to improve knowledge, skills and career opportunities within the cheese industry. Alongside a bespoke Academy of Cheese education package, consultancy and ongoing mentoring, there will also be opportunities to promote and market new cheese products at Chiswick Cheese Market and to Academy of Cheese members globally.
The Aim of the Chiswick Cheese Market Cheesemakers Grant
Encourage and support new cheesemakers
Support new cheese development
Provide access to cheese courses and certification
In 2026 there will be three grants worth up to the value of £3,000 each. Previous winners have gone on to win Best British Blue at the British & Irish Cheese Awards, stock their cheeses at La Fromagerie and Neal's Yard Dairy, build customer bases from scratch, and create businesses they love.
Quote from Matt Gue:
The Chiswick Cheese Market grant and the Academy of Cheese helped us to become silver medalists at the British and Irish Cheese awards within 7 months of making cheese, meet and sign up with buyers, get awesome technical know how and of course make connections with industry greats! You’d be mad to miss out. The grantee list is full amazing cheesemakers.
Quote from Lucy Cufflin:
The artisan cheese industry thrives on new voices, new flavours, and new ideas - but getting started is hard. That's why we keep coming back to this grant year after year. We've had the privilege of hosting some of our previous grantees here at Chiswick Cheese Market; watching customers taste a brand new British cheese for the very first time - some made just miles away - epitomises why we do this: the response from the public is always electric. The grant helps make this possible, and we're delighted to be offering two awards this year to give new cheesemakers the knowledge, connections, and confidence to bring their cheeses to the world.
Find out everything you need to know and apply here: https://loom.ly/BPK-KI4
Applications are open to UK cheesemakers / new cheesemaking businesses who are at start up stage or have been trading for less than 18 months.
