A needlework school that helped create the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress has been shortlisted for a top prize.

The Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace, has been teaching traditional techniques for 140 years and is in the running for this year’s craft skills awards.

The school pioneered the only BA degree course in hand embroidery in the UK and has been shortlisted for the award for encouraging craft skills in education.

The course started in 2011 and seeks to help students understand hand embroidery in the context of contemporary fashion, society and culture. Students go on to careers in fashion, interiors, design, museum curation and conservation after learning skills including goldwork, silk shading, canvas work and tambour beading.

The award celebrates the passing on of craft skills and will be presented in May at a ceremony hosted by Kirstie Allsopp.

Catherine Large, joint CEO of creative and cultural skills, said: “Our craft skills are simply too important a resource for the UK economy to lose.

“Learning these skills opens up aspirational and satisfying career options and sustains a valuable chunk of our economy, while fuelling our ability to innovate. Fostering their growth has to be a key priority.”