The Voice News | London | June 2025
The King’s Foundation has officially unveiled the nominees for its 2025 Foundation Awards, celebrating outstanding achievements in traditional arts, craftsmanship, innovation, and community service. The prestigious awards ceremony will take place later this month at St James’s Palace in London.
Established to promote excellence in education, sustainability, and the preservation of traditional skills, The King’s Foundation Awards shine a spotlight on individuals, organisations, and businesses that contribute meaningfully to society — in the UK and across the globe.
This year’s nominations reflect an inspiring breadth of talent, innovation, and impact. Here are the shortlisted finalists across the eight categories:
Emerging Talent
- Emily Hurst, milliner and CHANEL–King’s Foundation Fellow at Highgrove Gardens
- Neil Cunningham, self-taught traditional signwriter from Navan, Ireland
- Ruadh Thomson, graduate of the Hospitality Training Programme at Dumfries House
Young Entrepreneur
- Barnaby Horn, London-based milliner and founder of his namesake brand
- Jacob Marks, furniture designer from Snowdon School of Furniture
- Emma Rose Allen, founder of sustainable fashion house EROSA Studios
- Beth Somerville, embroidery graduate, whose work has been commissioned by HM Queen Camilla
International Impact
- Fashion Council Germany, for facilitating fashion and craft exchange programmes
- Akoje Residency, founded by Maro Itoje & Khalil Akar, supporting artists of African descent
- Commonwealth Association of Architects, championing sustainable urbanisation across Commonwealth nations
Advocate of the Year
- Alice Loxton, popular history broadcaster and author
- Tony Singh, renowned chef and advocate for the hospitality sector
- Patrick Holden, founder & CEO of the Sustainable Food Trust
Community Partnership of the Year
- Vibrant Communities Service (VCS), for organising Tea Dances benefiting Ayrshire’s older population
- Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, for providing scholarships in traditional arts training
- Auchinleck Primary School, for pioneering Harmony Education Programmes
Corporate of the Year
- Patagonia, known for its environmental leadership and B Corporation status
- Pukka Tea, for its commitment to sustainability, packaging innovation, and charitable giving
- Scottish Power, for green energy projects including Scotland’s Whitelee Windfarm
Teaching Award
- Claudia Peñaranda Fuentes, educator and expert on road decarbonisation at Transport for London
- Samantha Buckley, artist and residency leader in AlUla
- Robert Fawcett, senior tutor at Trinity Buoy Wharf
Innovation in Practice
- Yasmeen Lari, architect pioneering disaster-resilient housing in Pakistan
- Timorous Beasties, Scottish textile studio blending traditional craft with contemporary design
- Ammar Jiman, artist from Jeddah specialising in palm weaving and painting
The King’s Foundation, which has been a champion of craftsmanship and community resilience under the leadership of King Charles III, continues to foster partnerships and innovation that honour tradition while shaping a sustainable future.
This year’s finalists represent not only extraordinary individual stories, but also the broader impact of arts, culture, and community engagement in tackling modern challenges.
— Reporting by The Voice News Desk
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