Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Report Progress Update covering the period April 2021 March 2022
Dr Kelly Meng, Ruth Brown, Melissa Lawrence, Trang Do of the newly appointed Community Advisory Group met for the first time with the Goldsmiths’ Centre team in November 2021 bringing together knowledge and experience from across education, outreach, grant giving, diversity, programming and marketing
This report outlines the three key actions we have taken in the first year towards building diversity, equity, and inclusion into everything we do We believe that being transparent about our progress will keep us accountable moving forward
The ultimate 10 members will provide ongoing support to the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s work, increasing access and awareness of the Centre’s programmes amongst young people and UK wide craft communities
We consulted on how to make the Goldsmiths' Centre a more welcoming place for all. We aim to share best practice across our team and capture diversity data on those we train and support.
Improve equity, diversity and inclusion at the Goldsmiths' Centre - in our team and community
The Goldsmiths’ Centre’s mission is to enable UK jewellers, silversmiths and allied craftspeople to improve their skills and shape careers that they love. From April 2021, we embarked on a journey to address issues that affect our community, listening, learning and taking action.
To understand how diverse our community is today and to be able to measure change, we have implemented EDI surveys to monitor representation across all the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s programmes.
#1
In its new digital format it now attracts over 100 participants per year from across the UK, when traditionally only 30 were able to attend on site at the Goldsmiths' Centre. Since 2021 the course is also open to non-graduates, seeing learners participate from a variety of education and training routes, including individuals holding degrees and diplomas, apprenticeships or other UK accredited precious metal qualifications
As demonstrated through the following statistics, we are now seeing a larger and more diverse group of designers, designer makers and craftspeople from across the UK benefiting from this course each year, who may otherwise have not been able to participate
Opened for the first time online to non-graduates in its 40-year history in 2021, the week-long business introduction Getting Started course was reshaped in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Goldsmiths' Centre's commitment to widen access to its educational programmes.
To ensure a fairer and more transparent application and selection process for Getting Started, all applications are anonymised and assessed by external selection panels In 2021 we introduced the gathering of diversity data for all our programmes to identify any existing biases, gaps or issues and work towards improving them
“A big thank you for an excellent week. The course exceeded all my expectations, and I am going into this new week emboldened by lots of new information and a wealth of ideas. I am certain this experience will help me to get my business off the ground” Started Online
~ Getting
Getting Started 2022 Online Data:
introduction to business course for emerging makers
participant
5% prefer not to say
42% were born in England 32% in Europe or another country 15% in Scotland
55% under 34 in 2022
Image on previous page: Emerging jewellery and silversmithing businesses taking part in the Goldsmiths' Centre's Getting Started Online 2022 course
1% non binary
4% Other ethnic group
16% male
10% Asian/Asian British
4% prefer not to say
75% White
7% African/Black/Black British/ Caribbean
100 accepted onto course 96 course participants
10.19% of course participants had either a disability, impairment or long term health condition.
80% female
3% Mixed/multiple ethic groups
Business Growth Grant recipient presenting a new range of engagement ring prototypes
A £11,600 grant made possible through the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity has been given to the Edinburgh based Flourish Jewellery Project’s Glow Programme, which provides eight women with the opportunity to explore their personal trauma through jewellery making skills.
We acknowledge the need to break down barriers, whether personal, social, or economic, to improve access, inclusion, and representation in our training and public programmes. We have reviewed application criteria, selection processes and delivery mechanisms and are listening to the needs of communities under-represented in our programmes.
In 2021 the Goldsmiths’ Centre piloted Business Growth Grants, funded by The Goldsmiths' Company Charity, which have so far supported 8 individuals who face financial difficulty. They received core funding of £2,000 to support the growth of their business, providing access to essential equipment, marketing tools or specialist knowledge.
Since February 2022, we have helped 14 members of the industry through newly created Access Grants, removing financial barriers to the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s technical and business skills short courses. The Access Grants were made possible through the Goldsmiths' Company Charity.
We launched collaborative Crafting our Future Grants, opening these up to organisations and individuals seeking to protect and advance the skills and future of goldsmithing amongst diverse communities in the UK.
In 2020 the Survey of Black Jewellers, conducted by Kassandra Lauren Gordon in partnership with the Goldsmiths’ Company and the Goldsmiths’ Centre, discovered that 77% respondents felt lack of funds was the most common obstacle for Black jewellers entering the industry.
#2 Reach and engage under-represented individuals and communities better and more effectively
The Flourish Jewellery Project. Image of Project Participant 2021, Photographer: Shannon Tofts
More diverse role models and voices from the industry are now represented in our work, seeing us invite alumni, ambassadors and speakers from a broad range of BAME and other underrepresented communities, geographic locations, ages and career stages Our events programme addresses a widening diversity of topics, some in collaboration with the Goldsmiths’ Company History Group, including gender, sustainability, and global craft heritage
We established a fairer and more transparent application and selection process by anonymising criteria across all programmes and offering live online Q&As. We have recruited external selection panels to provide a diversity of expertise and experience, increased the representation of individuals from the Global Majority on our selection panels.
Through online delivery we have opened up participation, enabling members of the industry and our wider community to take part in skills training programmes, talks and showcasing opportunities from across the UK, from the comfort of their workshop or home; and made it more affordable for people to participate in our talks programme by introducing “pay what you can” scheme.
Our team trialled the setup of a mentoring programme to match craftspeople with inspiring industry role models, collectively developing skills, networks and careers.
The Goldsmiths' Centre collaborated with the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity on the Global Majority Fund, a grant making programme supporting projects owned, designed, developed and implemented by organisations and communities whose aims are aligned with the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s charitable goals
In 2021, through partnership with the Natural Diamond Council and Roxanne Rajcoomar-Hadden’s RRH Diamond Academy, talented emerging designers from diverse backgrounds were given a 10-day business growth programme helping them to break into the jewellery industry. Some of these jewellers went on to apply for the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s Business Growth Grants.
The Creative Dimension Trust helping young people to learn enamelling skills at the Goldsmiths' Centre, Photographer: The Creative Dimension Trust
We improved access to the industry and awareness of our programmes, through collaboration with partner organisations, such as Discover! Creative Careers, Livery Schools Link and the Culture Mile Learning Partnership. Our online Open Days were made accessible to young people from across the UK seeing alumni from different backgrounds and career stages and inspiring them to start a career in the industry.
#3
We collaborated with organisations such as The Creative Dimension Trust and Creative Mentors Foundation through our Crafting Our Future Programme to provide in school programmes as well as Saturday workshops and Summer Schools to widen access to the industry.
Foundation Programme Support Grants were promoted and opened up to support trainees, aged 16 to 19, who are experiencing financial hardship and assisting them with transport costs, accommodation or any other expenses which may hinder participation in the course.
Encourage more young people from under-represented communities into jewellery, silversmithing and the allied industries.
The Goldsmiths' Centre worked in collaboration with the Goldsmiths’ Company on a marketing campaign to increase awareness of routes for young people into the industry in response to the BBC2’s show All That Glitters and Hugo Johnson, former Foundation Programme trainee and Goldsmiths’ Company Apprentice, winning the overall competition In 2021/21 the Foundation Programme landing page saw a 57% increase in pageviews.
For the first time in the Goldsmiths' Company's 700 year history, the Goldsmiths' Centre is in the process of exploring the expansion of the Goldsmiths’ Company Apprenticeship Scheme through a regional pilot in the Midlands in 2022.
We recognise that to widen access into a career in the craft, we must showcase training routes and career paths, celebrate success stories of diverse role models, and create opportunities for young people to join our craft.
Young people at St Marylebone Bridge School making copper rings with the Creative Mentors Foundation
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We have chosen to use the following terminology in the update: Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME); and under represented groups which includes people from low income backgrounds We recognise that language around race, ethnicity and diversity is contested, nuanced and changing and we will aim to use the most widely accepted terms
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The Goldsmiths’ Centre is the UK’s leading charity for the professional training of goldsmiths. We support jewellers, silversmiths and the wider precious metal industry to improve skills and shape careers.
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Thank you to all members of the Goldsmiths’ Company whose donations, via the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity 1327 Fund, have helped to contribute to many of the Goldsmiths' Centre's community engagement and new initiatives.
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