Our Aims
The affairs of the Craft are managed by the Master Court who work to the following objectives:
- To provide support to members of the Incorporation, their dependents and the surviving widows, partners, sons, and daughters of deceased members who need assistance
- To provide support to craftsmen coopers, ex-coopers, and their dependents where need is clearly required
- To encourage the continuation of the trade of coopering in Scotland, particularly through links with established cooperages
- To provide prizes, educational assistance, and support through the Earl of Forfar Awards to those engaged in the trade of coopering and related industries
- To develop and strengthen links with coopers institutions in Scotland and with the Worshipful Company of Coopers in London
- To maintain the traditions of the trade of coopering through the retention of artefacts and historic written or similar material
- To support the wider objectives of the Trades House of Glasgow
- To make gifts to charities, particularly those related to projects in Glasgow
Earl of Forfar Awards
His Royal Highness Edward the Earl of Forfar became an Honorary Member of the Incorporation of Coopers of Glasgow in 2008 and he kindly lent his name to the Earl of Forfar Awards for coopering. He was keen that any involvement should embrace the traditions of the industry and assist the young people who are entering the trade as Apprentices. The Awards fall into several categories:
- Presentation of Coopers Tools to those who have been accepted as Apprentices
- Presentation of The Cooper and his Trade to those who in their 2nd year by the Federation
- Presentation of The History of the Incorporation of Coopers of Glasgow to those in their 3rd year
- Presentation of a Croze to those who have completed their apprenticeships
- The Award for innovation and Contribution to the Wine and Spirit Trade
- The Scholarship Award presented in recognition of an Apprentice attending a Scottish Whisky Research Institute Course which looks in detail at the Production of Scotch Whisky from Raw Materials to Distillation to Maturation looking particularly at the effects of cask quality, case reuse, storage, and the effects of prior use on the final product
In addition, each year The Incorporation sponsors a UK Scholarship Award in association with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust – the winner tours several Distilleries and Cooperages in Scotland.
Registered in Scotland | Charity Number: SC004620