Walsall Leather Skills Centre

Scroll for a snapshot of our upcoming leather working courses
– there really is something for everyone ...

Looking to learn skills for traditional shoemaking?

Understanding how a shoe is built, from shaping the leather to forming it around the last, gives you a completely different perspective on craftsmanship. These are skills rooted in tradition, yet still essential in modern footwear making.

Our Traditional Shoemaking Techniques course (2 weeks - 21 - 15 September and 28 September to 2 October) with Sebastian Tarek is a practical, hands-on introduction to the core stages of shoemaking. Students work through the process of constructing a pair of shoes, from lasting through to sole attachment and finishing.

This course is ideal for:
– Those new to shoemaking with an interest and experience in leatherwork
– Practitioners wanting to strengthen their technique

Over two weeks, you will:
– Build confidence working with leather in three dimensions
– Understand how materials behave during construction
– Learn traditional methods used in professional shoemaking
– Develop accuracy, patience and hand skills

Based at the Walsall Leather Skills Centre, you will be learning in a setting shaped by generations of British leatherworking heritage, guided by experienced craftspeople.

If you’re looking to step into shoemaking or deepen your understanding of the craft, this course offers a solid and practical foundation.

Great initiative from Abbey England Ltd.
Community is one of the fantastic intangible things people tell is a real benefit of coming to train at the centre

Ahead of International Day of Friendship on Thursday 30th July, we want to celebrate the friendships that make our industries stronger.

Whether you're a saddler, leatherworker, retailer, manufacturer or maker, every great partnership starts with someone introducing someone else.

To celebrate International Day of Friendship we're giving you and a friend 5% off your next online order.*

Check your inbox for your exclusive referral code.

Let's grow our community together.

*Minimum order £50 ex VAT. Online orders only. Ends Thursday 30 July. T&Cs apply.

It’s not long now until our next round of Foundation Courses start. Interested in either weekday block or alternative weekends please let us know. There is bursary support available, especially for the under 25’s...

Every skilled saddler starts with the same foundations.

Our Foundation Course (25 days) is designed as the starting point for complete beginners and those looking to build solid, professional skills. It’s the gateway into furthre saddlery and leatherwork training.

Over the course, students develop confidence through making a range of essential items, building core techniques which can be applied across more advanced work.

This course is ideal for:
– Complete beginners
– Career changers entering the trade
– Those preparing for further saddlery training
– Anyone serious about developing practical leatherworking skills

You will:
– Learn and practise essential hand skills used across the trade
– Build consistency and accuracy in your work
– Gain the confidence to progress onto higher-level courses
– Work towards the Worshipful Company of Saddlers Level 1 Certificate

Bursary support is available, including funding of up to £1,500 for students under 25, helping make training more accessible for those starting their journey.

Based in Walsall, a town with a long history of leatherworking, you will be learning in an environment shaped by traditional British craftsmanship.

If you’re ready to take your first step into the craft, this course provides the structure, support and skills to get started.

Moving from bridle work into harness is a natural step - which brings a new level of challenge.

Harness is about control. Working with thicker leathers, multiple layers and complex assemblies requires strength in your technique and accuracy in your finish.

Our Intermediate Harness Course with Catrien Coppens, builds directly on the skills developed in Intermediate Bridle, helping students adapt and refine them for heavier, more demanding work.

For those with previous experience, the course is for those ready to progress beyond bridle making and take on more complex construction with confidence.

Over two intensive weeks, with time between to practise, you will:
– Develop control when working with thicker materials
– Learn new techniques
– Manage layered construction with accuracy
– Build consistency to a professional standard

📍 Walsall Leather Skills Centre
📅 Week 1: 24–28 August 2026
📅 Week 2: 5–9 October 2026

The course prepares students for the City & Guilds Level 2 Harness qualification and is a key step in developing well-rounded saddlery skills.

If you’re ready to challenge your technique and move into harness work, find out more and apply via the website.

Under 25? Considering a career in leatherwork?

Bursary support of £1500 available for under 25's for our next round of leatherwork foundation Courses ...

Our Foundation Course is where many leatherworking journeys begin. Learn the core hand crafting skills, build confidence and understanding to progress into future training in saddlery, leathercraft or wider industry.

Designed for complete beginners, this 25-day course takes students through essential techniques - step by step. All materials are provided.

Upon completion students are eligible to take the Worshipful Company of Saddlers Certificate in Saddlery (Level 1).

There are both weekday and weekend course options available - making training accessible whether you're changing career, developing a craft or starting out for the first time.

For those aged under 25, bursaries of up to £1,500 are available.

This course is ideal for:
• Career changers exploring leatherwork
• Young people looking to enter a heritage craft
• Makers wanting structured, professional training
• Anyone serious about building practical skills from the ground up

You will gain:
• Strong foundations in traditional leatherworking techniques
• Confidence using tools and materials correctly
• The skills needed to progress to higher-level training
• A recognised Level 1 qualification

📅 Full dates and details available on the website
📍 Walsall Leather Skills Centre

If you’ve been considering a future in leatherwork, here is the opportunity to begin.

Find out more on the website and complete the application form for more details.

Not every detail in a harness changes performance. Details can however say a lot about the maker.

Box loops are the perfect example. Open Loops and Keepers will do the same job, holding a strap neatly in place. Box loops, or checkered loops, are often chosen for their visual appeal and the opportunity they give to demonstrate artisan skills.

Consistency, proportion and finish all need care, especially when working at a smaller scale – important elements to master – to help elevate the finish of a piece.

On Tuesday 6 October, Catrien Coppens will be teaching a one-day Box Loop Course at Walsall Leather Skills Centre. The day forms part of the Intermediate Harness programme and focuses on developing accuracy and control in this detailed area of work.

Attendees will work through the process of constructing a box loop - from cutting and stitching - through to blocking and checkering a pattern- gaining a deeper understanding of how these components contribute to overall presentation.
The focus is on achieving a clean, consistent finish to enhance the overall presentation of a harness or bridle.

The session is suited to those progressing in harness or bridle work who would like to refine techniques for detail.

To apply for a place, see the Intermediate Harness page of the website.

From Bench to Horse: Understanding Bridle Fit

Understanding how tack interacts with equine anatomy is an ever increasing essential skill for bench saddlers aiming to produce work which supports comfort and performance.

Our new Bridle Fit for the Bench Saddler course with Catherine Baker, focuses on these connections. Over two practical days, you’ll explore how design choices at the bench influence fit on the horse - and how to recognise and respond to common issues.

Designed for trainee and intermediate bench saddlers, the course blends hands-on making with applied problem solving.

You will:

• Build confidence assessing bridle fit
• Understand key pressure points and anatomical considerations
• Learn how to make informed adjustments at the bench
• Develop a more complete picture of tack design and function

Dates: 18–19 November 2026

This is a valuable step for those looking to refine their skills and produce work with greater purpose and precision.

Find out more or book your place by getting in touch with the team.

"I only wish I'd found the course sooner!"

On our Tool Maintenance course, you'll work through the sharpening process step by step, using your own tools. Whether it's a round head knife, half head knife, French knife, strap cutter, plough gauge or splitter, you'll learn the principles to apply across them all.

A key focus is understanding the burr – where it forms, how to feel it, how it behaves and methods to remove it correctly. You'll explore sharpening stones, papers and techniques to develop a consistent method to achieve a reliable cutting edge.

Designed for anyone working with leather, from those building good habits to experienced makers refining their technique, this hands-on course provides skills you'll use every day.

Taught by experienced tutor Christer Dahlberg in our Walsall workshop.

📅 Next date: 24 July 2026

Sharp tools don’t just make work easier. They define the quality of the finish.

A well-prepared edge, a clean cut, a confident stitch line – all rely on tools which are properly sharpened and maintained. in the beginning it can be a skill often overlooked, yet it underpins every stage of leatherwork.

Our Tool Sharpening & Maintenance workshop is a one-day, hands-on course designed to give you confidence in looking after your tools and getting the best from them.

Suitable for all skill levels, the day combines expert demonstrations with practical bench time so you can work directly on your own tools.

You will:
– Learn how to sharpen a range of leatherworking tools
– Understand how to maintain edges for consistent performance
– Adjust and care for tools to improve accuracy and finish
– Build practical skills you can apply immediately in your own work

📅 Next date: 24 July 2026
📍 Walsall Leather Skills Centre
⏱ 1-day workshop
👥 Small group learning
🧰 Bring your own tools to work on

Feedback from this course is consistently strong. Participants leave with sharper tools, better results, and skills they continue to build on.

If you want more precision from your work, this is where to start.