Specialist Cheesemakers Association
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Welcome to the Specialist Cheesemakers Association (SCA)

Join hundreds of UK and Irish cheesemakers to gain expert technical guidance, access exclusive industry events, and connect with the supportive network dedicated to your craft.
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About Us

Founded in 1989, the Specialist Cheesemakers Association (SCA) is the voice of the UK’s artisan and speciality cheese sector. With the patronage of His Majesty King Charles III, we bring together cheesemakers, retailers, affineurs, and industry partners who are committed to producing safe, high-quality and distinctive cheeses.

Our vision is a world-leading UK artisan and speciality cheese sector, supported by a diverse community of sustainable and profitable businesses. We promote excellence in cheesemaking by sharing technical knowledge, championing best practice in food safety, representing members’ interests to government, and creating opportunities for networking and collaboration.

Guided by our values of excellence, respect, integrity and mutual support, we work to strengthen and grow the specialist cheese community for the benefit of members, consumers and the wider industry.

How We Support Our Members

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SCA Webinars & Events

SCA Farm Visit & AGM 2026

The SCA Farm Visit 2026 will take place between 3rd and 5th July 2026, kindly hosted by Mary and Jane Quicke of Quicke’s Traditional Ltd, at Cyres, Exeter, Devon.Set across more than 2,000 acres, over half of which is woodland, the farm runs two block calving herds, made up of around 300 cows in each, a spring herd and an autumn herd. This system ensures year-round milk production for their...
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SCA Online Cheese Clinic with Ivan Larcher (6 JULY 2026)

This is a special SCA workshop featuring Ivan Larcher of The Cheese School in Castlemaine — a virtual session designed for artisan cheesemakers who are looking to solve technical problems and up their game.The session will also include a live ad-hoc Q&A, giving you the chance to address spontaneous queries on the day. Participants will also receive a comprehensive written summary and video...
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Science of Artisan Cheese Conference

The SCA invites you to join us for the Science of Artisan Cheese conference (18–19 August in North Cadbury, Somerset): two days of practical insight, fascinating research, and good company, designed specifically for the artisan cheesemaking community.From addressing real-world production challenges to exploring the latest science shaping our industry, the programme brings together leading...
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SCA Workshop – Microbiological Control in Cheesemaking (8 September) – SAVE THE DATE

The SCA is pleased to announce a day-long practical workshop on Tuesday 8 September 2026 focused on understanding and managing the microbiological risks inherent in different cheese production systems. The event will take place at Bradbury’s Cheese in Buxton, Derbyshire.The day will revisit the fundamentals of microbiological control in cheesemaking, including what pasteurisation can and cannot...
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SCA Listeria Swabbing Webinar (30 September 2026) – SAVE THE DATE

The SCA Technical Committee are running a webinar on Listeria Swabbing on Wednesday 30 September 2026 from 1.00 to 2.30 pm . The webinar will be hosted by Marissa Schwoch from the SCA Technical Committee and will explain the importance of having a robust Listeria swabbing plan for your dairy, how and where to swab, and what action to take if you find Listeria. It will also cover the amendment...
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Chiswick Cheese Market Cheesemaker's Grant

Applications for the 2026 Chiswick Cheese Market Cheesemaker's Grant are now open! 🧀If you're a new or emerging cheesemaker based in the UK - operational for up to 18 months - this is your chance to access: ✅ Academy of Cheese certifications✅ Expert mentoring and consultancy✅ Hands-on cheesemaking experience✅ A network of industry professionals who want to see you succeed Previous...
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SCA Webinars

For access to Full Year Plan for 2026 as well as past webinars and presentations, please log in to your Member Hub.For Webinar Queries and Booking Forms, please contact the SCAPAST WEBINARSSCA Webinar on Documentation Requirements  (11 March 2026) The SCA Technical Committee ran a webinar on documentation requirements for specialist cheesemakers on Wednesday 11th March 2026 from 1200-1400. This...
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Cheesemaking Courses

The Specialist Cheesemakers Association does not offer cheesemaking courses, nor does it officially endorse any of the professional, commercial courses listed below. These are for suggestion only and it is up to the student to decide what training may suit them best.The School of Artisan FoodBased at Wellbeck in Nottinghamshire the School of Artisan Food offers a range of in-depth professional...
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Technical Training

Technical Training for cheesemakers and othersEstablished cheesemakers. SCA's technical committee organise practical course and webinars for cheesemakers from time to time so please keep your eyes open for further details by email, in the news section of this website and in the quarterly newletters.SCA's webinar (including Q&A) about SALSA for first-timers can be accessed...
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The Artisan Cheese Awards

Last year 650 entries from 123 UK and Irish cheesemakersEntries are now open and will close on Friday 1st May. 20 Classes – £12 per entryJudging will be Thursday 14th May (delivery of cheese 13th).Awards Supper will be on Saturday 24th May at the Artisan Cheese Fair (below)Judges in the past have included:• Marks & Spencer• Fine Cheese Company• Tesco• Neal’s Yard• Waitrose• La Fromagerie•...
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World Cheese Awards

Organised by the Guild of Fine Food. Judges work in teams looking at nearly 4,000 cheeses from over 40 countries to identify any cheeses worthy of a Bronze, Silver, Gold OR Super Gold award. They assess the look, feel, smell and taste of each entry, scoring aspects such as the appearance of the rind and taste, as well as the aroma, body and texture, with the majority of points awarded for...
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Artisan Cheese Fair 2026

The Fair will now be held on the weekend of the 23/24 May 2026.• Cost of a 3mx3m stand is £24 per day (all undercover – no gazebo needed).• Around 8,000 visitors expected including buyers from across the country.• Normally around 60 artisan cheese makers attend – other stands also.• Location Cattle Market,Melton Mowbray. LE13 0HSwww.meltonfestivals.co.ukFurther information from Matthew...
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The SCA Community

Feltham's Farm Ltd logo
Pant Mawr Farmhouse Cheeses logo
Fine Cheese Co, The logo
Corleggy Cheeses logo
Charles Martell & Son Ltd logo
Golden Cross Cheese Co Ltd logo
Long Clawson Dairy Ltd logo
Mount Eliza Cheese Ltd logo
Fielding Cottage logo
The Fine Food Co logo
High Weald Dairy Ltd logo
Keen's Cheddar Ltd logo
West Country Water Buffalo Ltd logo
Weardale Cheese Ltd logo
Cheese Tasting Company, The logo
Bradburys Cheese logo
Burnside Cheese logo
Stonebeck Cheese logo
Brinkworth Dairy logo
Isle of Wight Cheese Co Ltd, The logo
Farm on the Fell Ltd logo
Connage Highland Dairy logo
Sharpham Dairy logo
Winterdale Cheesemakers logo
Kedar Cheese Company, The logo
OV Dairy Supplies logo
Jericho Cheese Company logo
JKM Foods Ltd logo
Aubrey Allen Ltd logo
Anthony Rowcliffe & Son Ltd logo
Fen Farm Dairy logo
Homewood Cheeses logo
Black Sheep School of Cheesemaking, The logo
Godfrey C Williams & Son logo
Foams 4 Sports T/A Synrein logo
Colston Bassett Dairy Ltd logo
Freshly Ground PR logo
Lincolnshire Poacher Cheese logo
Stone Tree Dairy logo
Cote Hill Cheese logo
Westcombe Dairy logo
LA. CRU (Italian Raw Milk Association) logo
Brookes Wye Valley Dairy Co. Ltd logo
Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses logo
Carron Lodge Ltd logo
Monkland Cheese Dairy logo
Cheese & Yogurt Making logo
Food Technology Centre, The logo
Norton and Yarrow Cheese Ltd logo
Durrus Cheese Ltd logo
Cosyn Cymru logo
Whin Yeats Dairy logo
Bath Soft Cheese Co Ltd logo
Usk Valley Cheese Company logo
Capital Refrigeration Services Ltd logo
Wandering Ewe Dairy logo
Courtyard Dairy, The logo
Appleby Creamery Ltd logo
Island Cheese Company Ltd, The logo
Holden Farm Dairy logo
Daylesford Organic Farm logo
Pextenement Cheese Company Ltd logo
Inagh Farmhouse Cheese Ltd logo
Quicke's Traditional Ltd logo
J A & E Montgomery Ltd logo
Batch Farm Cheesemakers Ltd logo
Hartington Creamery Ltd logo
La Fromagerie logo
School of Artisan Food, The logo
Nettlebed Creamery logo
Cheese Shed, The logo
Hegarty Cheese logo
Jongia (UK) Ltd logo
Northumberland Cheese Company Ltd logo
Caws Teifi Cheese logo
Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company, The logo
Shepherds Purse Cheeses Ltd logo
Alpma GB Ltd logo
Cheese etc, Pangbourne Cheese Shop Ltd, The logo
Wye Creamery logo
White Lake Cheese logo
Brindisa Ltd logo
Book and Bucket Cheese Company, The logo
Tanfield Engineering Services Ltd logo
Cheese Hamlet, The logo
France Process Ltd logo
Bevistan Dairy logo
Cheese Man, The logo
Cropwell Bishop Creamery Ltd logo
Horham Dairy & Care Farm CIC logo
Isle of Mull Cheese logo
Doddington Dairy Cheese Co logo
Wendover Wine & Food Trading Company logo
Wee Dalry Dairy Ltd, The logo
Norfolk & Better Ltd logo
Harvey & Brockless logo
Mrs Temple's Cheese logo
Richard Newell Cheese & Dairy Services Ltd logo
Treveador Farm Dairy logo
Buchanans Cheesemonger logo
Precision Cut Textiles Ltd logo
Finlay's Farm Ltd logo
Bryngaer Goats Cheese logo
Lyburn Farmhouse Cheesemakers logo
Appleby's logo
Food Centre Wales logo
Wacky Wedge Cheese Company logo
Cheese Shop Tunbridge Wells, The logo
Buffalo Farm Produce Ltd, The logo
Curlew Dairy logo
Newton Dee Dairy logo
Green and Lovely Limited logo

Discover the Best of British & Irish Cheese

Explore the diversity and quality of British and Irish cheeses, crafted by skilled producers using traditional and innovative methods. This section celebrates exceptional cheesemaking and helps connect consumers with outstanding cheeses and their makers.

See the list of British and Irish SCA members here

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