FEATURE
YOU’RE HIRED! Having won a Medal of Excellence at the recent WorldSkills competition, apprentice mounter Ben Pritchard, 21, is now an Associate Fellow of the Institute of Professional Goldsmiths. We asked him about his burgeoning jewellery career.
Apple Nootenboom, IPG chairman, Ben Pritchard and Harvey Sillis
What made you decide to become a mounter? While at school I had an opportunity to do work experience in the workshop of jewellery retailer Emson Haig… and I loved it. When I finished school at 16 they offered me a five-year apprenticeship in diamond mounting with Master Goldsmith Harvey Sillis and I grabbed the chance. How was it in the beginning? At first I really struggled with the basic skills like soldering and filing, but Harvey encouraged me to carry on, saying that it would get better. It was difficult – I was 16 and had committed to five years. Was this the right career for me? It really helped that Harvey had been there and done it and could guide me both at and away from the bench. I could talk to him about anything. Was it daunting initially? To begin with I was doing four days a week at Emson Haig –
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three with Harvey plus a day release with goldsmith, Paul Raven, in South London. I was working normal nine-to-five hours but leaving home at six in the morning and getting back at eight, so it was a long day. It was very hard work at first and it felt like I wasn’t getting better, which was frustrating – I’d see Harvey’s work and wanted to be able to make the same things to the same high standard. He said that it would come with time and that he’d been doing it for 50 years! It was just the two of us in the workshop, which put pressure on our relationship, but we got along so well and still do. He was serious when he had to be, but would have me laughing throughout the day – which helped a lot. What is it about mounting that appeals to you? I love the idea of making something like an engagement ring that will be on someone’s finger for their whole life, bringing them so much
happiness. Turning a plain sheet of flat metal into something amazing like that is my favourite part of diamond mounting. Why did you decide to enter WorldSkills? The Goldsmiths’ Company encourages apprentices to enter competitions – you have to be able to think for yourself and make something without asking your Master how to do it. It was obviously a good thing to do. For two years running I competed in the UK Skills in Birmingham – the first year I finished third of five and the second year second of six. I was then approached to do WorldSkills, which was very daunting – it’s a massive step-up in quality. Tell us about the experience and the gains? In the competition in São Paulo I was up against 17 competitors, all of us making the same thing – the Brazilian flag with some artistic flair. It was intended to test all the core skills to the highest level under immense pressure. We had 22 hours to make it, which was very tight – if I had to make this piece at work I’d quote 30 hours. So you can’t make any mistakes. When I first started competing I wasn’t great under pressure – if something went wrong it affected me for the rest of the competition. After several competitions I don’t let the pressure bother me. There were over 200,000 spectators at São Paulo, so I was being constantly watched.
Working with other goldsmiths was invaluable. I learnt a lot from my WorldSkills training manager, Steve Jinks, and Paul York was hugely helpful throughout my training at the Goldsmiths’ Centre. A couple months before the competition I trained everyday at work – I couldn’t have done it without their support and the time they gave me to improve. The biggest thing I gained from competing was self-belief – you have to believe you are good enough to make the design in front of you. If you don’t, then you will never be able to make the piece. My aim was to be in the top 10 because the UK hasn’t had a jeweller in that place since 2003. So coming eighth and receiving the Medal of Excellence was an amazing achievement… I exceeded all my expectations. What’s next? I’ll finish my apprenticeship in November and will then become a Freeman of the City and the Goldsmiths’ Company. I’ve been working at Emson Haig during my apprenticeship and for the last nine months have been running the workshop to gain experience in talking to companies, ordering materials and distributing the workload. Occasionally I talk to customers if they have any issues. My future plans are to stay with Emson Haig and develop my diamond mounting skills further. But one day I’d love to run my own business.
on my first apprentice over 40 years ago. It’s a privilege to “passI took on my skill and experience to a younger person starting out in the jewellery trade – hoping that they will continue in that chosen profession and, in turn, train future apprentices, thereby preventing the trade from declining. Taking on an apprentice is very timeconsuming, involving a great deal of dedication by the Master and huge expense over the five years. After about three months’ tuition I could see that Ben had a natural talent and flair which I could encourage and nurture. His perseverance and growing ability gained him his place representing the UK in WorldSkills. None of my previous apprentices reached the standard required to take part in that or the UK competition. Harvey Sillis FIPG
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