Fostering capability at every link in the chain
Ish Wish Dish Masterpiece by Celeste Heathcote, former apprentice of Sam James Ltd
Where creativity and craftsmanship come alive
Designing, making, crafting and finishing: it all comes together at the Goldsmiths’ Centre. It’s where jewellers, goldsmiths and silversmiths exchange ideas, skills and resources. We welcome everyone: from the young and curious, to designers, makers, manufacturers and craftspeople at all stages in their journey.
Our award-winning building is home to over 130 makers and businesses.
Within these walls they hone their craft, push the boundaries of creativity and access the suppliers they need on their doorstep. The building is open to everyone year-round for exhibitions, training, networking opportunities and events, so the industry and the wider world can recognise and celebrate what it takes to create each piece.
We believe that every interaction
should be a stepping stone to the next opportunity. So, as well as our high-quality teaching and training, we open up routes into apprenticeships, employment, further education and continued business growth too. That’s how we ensure the trade’s continued relevance, and our industry’s longterm health.
Jewellery skills in action during our training programmes
Where the industry goes to grow
We exist to support the jewellery, silversmithing and allied industries to embrace learning as an essential lifelong practice.
Through technical courses, business support, affordable workspace, funding opportunities, events and showcases, we aim to close the industry’s skills gap so that creativity, craftsmanship and community can thrive.
OUR VISION
To close the jewellery industry’s skills gap
OUR MISSION
To foster capability at every link in the chain
BRAND PILLARS
Creativity
Bold ideas brought to life in beautiful objects. Encouraging new ways of thinking, learning and doing helps to make our industry vibrant and progressive.
Craftsmanship
Centuries of experience, passed from one craftsperson to another. Offering advice and training in traditional and modern skills is how we keep the trade alive.
Community
A hub for connection, inspiration and fellowship. The Centre is a place where ideas take shape and relationships are formed.
The steps we take to make real change
Guided by our key priorities, we’re working to help more people and businesses take their next steps, wherever they are.
STRATEGIC AIMS
Supporting and upskilling the industry
We deliver high-quality technical skills training, opening up routes into apprenticeships, employment and further education.
Championing and helping businesses to grow
We encourage businesses to grow by providing support, mentoring, funding and networking opportunities, as well as platforms to exhibit and sell their work.
Building a supportive community
We provide affordable workspace and foster a collaborative learning environment where makers and businesses can hone their craft, access suppliers and pass on their skills.
FOUNDATIONAL AIMS
Widening access and representation
We break down personal, social and economic barriers to improve access and inclusion and foster diversity in our community.
Encouraging sustainability and environmental responsibility
We embed an organisational culture that encourages sustainable practices and facilitates the exploration of traceability and transparency in the industry.
Together, we make this possible
Closing the jewellery industry’s skills gap is at the core of everything we do. We can only achieve it with the support of our grant funder, the Goldsmiths’ Foundation, our incredible community of makers and businesses, our teaching team, and all our partners.
With this vital funding and your expertise, passion, vision, and contributions, we are able to empower thousands of young and inspiring people, businesses, and the industry as a whole. Thanks to everyone we’ve worked with this year. Together, we look forward to achieving even more in the year ahead.
IPG Fellows have made essential contributions to the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s training. We look forward to becoming an official source of quality tutors across all disciplines, thereby significantly contributing to our shared goal: closing the industry’s skills gap.
Janet Weller FIPG Chair of The Institute of Professional Goldsmiths (IPG)
From inspiring the next generation of jewellers and silversmiths to delivering essential technical and enterprise skills, above all the Goldsmiths’ Centre is a community, building the connections to fuel creative and commercial success.
Partnering with the Goldsmiths’ Centre inspired Thomas Lyte to integrate our progressive approach into apprentice training. We reinforce our shared commitment to preserving traditional skills through masterclasses at our workshops.
Founder and Chief Executive of Thomas Lyte
I loved working with my mentee. Sharing my knowledge, offering support and guidance through the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s Business Mentoring Programme, reminded me to channel that same energy into my own business, not to grow complacent, and to keep pushing forwards.
Kevin Barker
Annie Warburton FCGI FRSA Chief Executive and Clerk of the Goldsmiths’ Company
Sarah Hutchinson
SH Jewellery Owner and Founder at SH Chance to Sparkle
The Goldsmiths’ Foundation’s vital support
This year, the Goldsmiths’ Foundation generously provided us with just under £1.8 million to support our operations, along with an additional £126,000 for grant-making activities as part of our foundational aim to widen access and representation.
2023-24 income
Total turnover £3,189,891
Revenue
£1,298,050 Grants given to other organisations and individuals £126,172
Operating grant £1,765,668
Fine jeweller Steve Jinks passes down his knowledge during the Foundation Programme
A year of growth and reinvention
Much progress has been made this year, despite Director Peter Taylor’s extended leave. It’s a measure of the excellent team he has assembled over the years; a huge thank you to Deputy Director Karine Lepeuple and the Goldsmiths’ Centre team from all the Trustees.
Michael Wainwright Chair of Trustees
With the advent of T Levels, we’ve reinvented the Foundation Programme to continue offering free, industry-specific training, now in the form of a one-year course for students aged 18+. We’ve also expanded our short courses to reflect evolving industry needs, such as CAD. This year, we supported 280 participants and 39 trainees and Goldsmiths’ Company apprentices: the “movers and shakers” of our future.
Collaboration remains key. We provided £184,000 in funding to organisations such as The Creative Dimension Trust, Bishopsland Educational Trust, Ore Projects and Pivot; safeguarding vital skills and fostering the future of gold and silversmithing.
Supporting emerging businesses has also been a priority. The new Business Growth Programme paired nine entrepreneurs with Goldsmiths’ Company mentors, while our Creative Links talks connected 699 makers and business owners globally.
Regional expansion is equally top of mind. A start in the Midlands has been made, following the inauguration of a specialist jewellery T Level course for school children at Aston University Engineering Academy, funded by its founding partner, the Goldsmiths’ Foundation (the new name for the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity).
In order to ensure our building remains a beautiful, comfortable space to study or work, we’ll soon upgrade our mechanical and electrical systems. Demand for workshops remains high, with a waiting list of talented individuals eager to join our community.
Eagle-eyed readers may have spotted our new logo on the cover. The leopard’s head, an iconic symbol of the Goldsmiths’ Company, is both the London town mark and the first British hallmark. It felt only right to embrace and build on this legacy by ‘leading with the leopard’ in our new brand designs. And so, it is the leopard’s head that is the new logo for the Goldsmiths’ family of brands: the Goldsmiths’ Company, the London Assay Office, the Goldsmiths’ Foundation, and our charity, the Goldsmiths’ Centre.
None of this work would be possible without the significant funding we receive from the Goldsmiths’ Foundation, for which we are extremely grateful.
Last but not least, we are delighted to welcome Peter Taylor back as Director. His leadership has been deeply missed, and we look forward to his continued contributions as we advance our mission of fostering capability at every link in the chain.
Extending our impact far and wide
ATTENDANCE FROM THE UK
1,265
PEOPLE TOOK PART IN PERSON
1,201
PEOPLE TUNED IN ONLINE
LOCATION DATA
Event participant location data is based on the postal address provided during the application or booking process for the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s programmes, including grants, courses, talks and selling pop-ups. It may not reflect the participant’s physical location at the time of the activity.
ATTENDANCE FROM ABROAD
PEOPLE JOINED US IN PERSON
144
PEOPLE TUNED IN ONLINE 30
A snapshot of our successes
OCT 23
Going nationwide: Creative Links
Expanding beyond London for the first time, Creative Links debuted at the Ulster Museum in Belfast and Elements Festival in Edinburgh.
Supporting business growth: Business Catalyst (Large) Grants
Up to £7,000 (incl. VAT) awarded to jewellers Ellis Mhairi Cameron and Hannah Bedford, funded by donations from Goldsmiths’ Company members.
Jewellery Retail Pilot:
London Museum Docklands shop
Five Shine alumni featured in this special retail project, in partnership with the Goldsmiths’ Company and Goldsmiths’ Foundation.
NOV
23
Student workshops: Awe & Alchemy
Two student workshops funded as part of the Association for Contemporary Jewellery and Silversmiths Northern Ireland (ACJSNI)’s fascinating exhibition.
Technical Drawing: New short course
Jeweller and CAD designer Jasmin Karger started helping jewellery designers improve their production process.
Selling event: Trove
12 resident jewellery businesses exhibited as part of the fine jewellery collective.
DEC 23
Business skills:
Spotlighting Getting Started
20 makers learnt how to photograph their work, speak live to camera and prepare their pieces for the annual exhibition.
JAN 24
Invaluable guidance: Business Mentoring Programme
The first nine emerging businesses were paired with mentors, including many Goldsmiths’ Company members, through this pilot programme.
FEB
24
Apprentice Day Release training: The Goldsmiths’ Company
Over 20 weeks, 29 apprentices developed practical skills in our workshop facilities through year-group specific projects.
Uniting for the future:
Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Crafts Industry Roundtables (UKJSAC) 23 industry representatives discussed sector opportunities, co-hosted by the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) and Media Culture and Sport (DCMS), led by Sir Chris Bryant MP.
Pearl Stringing: New short course
Gold member and former Tiffany & Co. specialist, Anja Moehler started teaching the fine art of pearl stringing.
MAR 24
Inspiring conversations: Giovanni Corvaja and Yeena Yoon 88 craftspeople and members of the public attended our talk between the renowned artist-goldsmith and the awardwinning resident craftsperson.
Introducing business essentials: Getting Started Online
78 startups took part in our free, one week introduction to business course, featuring live webinars, networking and a chance to exhibit their work.
APR 24
Apprentice to Masterpiece:
The Goldsmiths’ Apprentices exhibition
Four apprentices celebrated, reflecting over 350 hours of specialisation and marking their transition from learners to accomplished craftspeople.
MAY 24
Historic meets contemporary: The Craft of Tea: 1660–2024
Over 40 pieces from the Chitra Collection exhibited alongside examples from contemporary makers, highlighting tea’s continued cultural significance.
Empowering people experiencing homelessness: Pivot
The award-winning social enterprise delivered its jewellery making training programme and pop-up event for the second year running, thanks to donations from members of the Goldsmiths’ Company.
JUN 24
Planning for success:
Business Diagnostic and Advice
The monthly sessions saw 33 emerging businesses advised on their growth potential, plus free training and business plans for 10 of the Goldsmiths’ Company’s Emerging Business Bursary recipients, in preparation for Goldsmiths’ Fair.
The future of silversmithing:
Bishopsland Educational Trust Pop-Up Nine jewellers and silversmiths from the Bishopsland Educational Trust showcased at The Craft of Tea: 1660–2024 exhibition.
Recipients announced:
£1,000 Business Catalyst (Small) Grants
Scarlett Cohen French, Ozlem Gunes, Megan Brown, Emma Wilson and Alice Fry received this year’s first round of grants, thanks to generous donations from Goldsmiths’ Company members.
JUL 24
End-of-year celebration event: Foundation Programme
A celebration of the trainees’ achievements with awards presented amongst our teaching team, industry leaders and loved ones.
Expert insights:
Creative Links online event
Insights into relationship-building with galleries and retailers, featuring jewellery expert Heather McDermott, retail specialists Keira Wraae-Stewart and Alison Skeates, plus curators Louisa Pacifico and Gregory Parsons.
Hand-picked excellence: Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council (GC&DC) Awards exhibition
Awe-inspiring, award-winning work took centre-stage in this exhibition from emerging and established makers, including work by Foundation Programme trainees, apprentices, tutors and residents.
AUG 24
Championing new talent: Shine 2024
15 up-and-coming UK designer makers selected to showcase their collections and access free training on presenting, selling and showcasing their work.
Breaking barriers: Ore Projects
With a focus on empowering women, LGBTQIA+ individuals and young people through metalworking workshops, the non-profit hosted 20 participants while providing mentorship and business insights.
Crafting young futures: The Creative Dimension Trust (TCDT) Paul and Tomiko Ravn led a summer workshop series teaching fine hand skills to 14–19-year-olds.
SEP 24
Launching careers in the industry: Our Foundation Programme 10 young people started their year-long journey to learn a wide range of craft skills and techniques.
Fundamental Silversmithing Skills: New short course
Three-day workshop on large-scale silversmithing techniques with Oscar Saurin, Foundation Programme and Goldsmiths’ Company apprentice alumna.
The sum total of our efforts
Supporting and upskilling the industry
10 young people completed our Foundation Programme, with 90% progressing to Goldsmiths’ Company apprenticeships, industry employment or higher education
participants engaged in 37 technical short courses
4,060 hours of day release training provided to 29 apprentices across 25 employers in London, the South-East and the Midlands
Championing and helping businesses to grow
28 practising craftspeople taught technical programmes across 20 different topics
businesses gained skills to promote, sell and showcase their work through our programmes (Getting Started Online, Shine, Business Diagnostic and Advice, Goldsmiths’ Fair Emerging Bursary Training)
entrepreneurs awarded Business Catalyst (Small and Large) Grants
699 people connected through our Creative Links events and other workshops
38 startup profiles raised by sharing their work with 23.2K Instagram followers (Spotlighting Getting Started, Shine, Business Catalyst (Small) Grants)
Building a supportive community
resident craftspeople and Gold members thriving in our subsidised workshops and coworking spaces
Widening access and representation
1,573 people inspired through 19 talks, 7 workshops, 4 pop-ups and 2 private views (Shine 2024, Meet the Maker, talks, exhibition celebrations, Creative Inspiration Workshops and pop-ups with Trove, Pivot and Bishopsland Educational Trust)
of revenue generated through commercial activities (Bench café sales, venue hire, ticket sales, online shop and workshop rental)
young people from underrepresented communities entered creative careers through our training programmes
Working with The Creative Dimension Trust, The Creative Mentors Foundation, Alton Arts Festival and Ore Projects
32 people upskilled on our short courses for free, thanks to Access Grants
Funded by donations from Goldsmiths’ Company members to the 1327 Fund
24 people from underrepresented communities took part in skills training programmes
In collaboration with Flourish Jewellery Project and Pivot
50% of the 2023/24 Foundation Programme trainees completed workshops with The Creative Dimension Trust trainees supported with their travel or living expenses through our Foundation Programme Support Grants
Encouraging sustainability and environmental responsibility
minds opened through Copenhagen Commitment talks on the sustainability landscape, progress and industry aspirations
100% zero carbon electricity used to fuel our building’s operations
31 computer devices donated to a Community Interest Company training people in converting e-waste into useful resources and bridging the digital divide
Shaping the industry’s thriving future
We know that talent and technical training are essential to the continued health of our trade. And this year, we’ve truly approached the industry from all angles, expanding our programmes and partnerships to provide even more makers, manufacturers and businesses with the skills and support they need to thrive.
Our activities
Foundation Programme
Shaping future careers in jewellery, silversmithing and the allied industries
The Goldsmiths’ Company Apprenticeship Scheme
Supporting apprentices and employers in London, the South-East and the Midlands Community recognition
Celebrating our tutors and our alumni, the next generation of master craftspeople
Short courses and continuing professional development
Teaching specialist techniques and processes
Access Grants
Financial support to open our technical and business programmes to more people
Shaping future careers in jewellery, silversmithing and the allied industries:
Foundation Programme
Bridging education and hands-on experience, 10 trainees complete placements with a vibrant array of leading employers, gain specialist skills
and explore jewellery’s rich history. This year’s cohort gained insights on engraving and enamelling from resident craftspeople and got to visit Wartski, Thomas Lyte, Bobby White, Chitra Collection, the workshop of Grant Macdonald London and the Goldsmiths’ Company Collection and Library.
Our partner activities
Bishopsland Educational Trust
Offering world-class training in silversmithing for young people in the UK
Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Crafts Industry Roundtables (UKJSAC)
Industry-wide events to collectively tackle key opportunities and challenges
The Creative Dimension Trust
Enabling young people to develop fine hand skills with leading international specialists
Aston University Engineering Academy (AUEA)’s The Goldsmiths’ Institute
Empowering Birmingham’s young people to embark on careers in jewellery making
The 2023/24 cohort of aspiring jewellers and goldsmiths begins their skill-building journey together
1,143 hours of hands-on training delivered to prepare Foundation Programme trainees for entering the industry
The Foundation Programme gave me exactly what I needed – dedicated tutors committed to supporting my personal and professional growth, enabling me to find my place as a young craftsperson.
Finlay Stevenson
Former Foundation Programme trainee and current Goldsmiths’ Company Apprentice at C.A. Treble (London) Ltd
Bringing talent into business: The Goldsmiths’ Company Apprenticeship Scheme
Over 20 weeks, 29 apprentices developed various practical skills at day release training while working on a specific project. Visiting the exhibition, Silver in the Fast Lane: 40 Years of Fox Silver, and the library at Goldsmiths’ Hall was described as “life-changing” by one apprentice. This immersive training not only enhances their technical abilities but also boosts their confidence, creativity and teamwork.
4,060
hours of day release training provided to support 29 apprentices and their 25 employers in London, the South-East and the Midlands
While it’s possible to hire someone already skilled, there’s something uniquely rewarding about nurturing talent and seeing apprentices grow into capable professionals who can create beautiful work consistently.
Jos Skeates Founder of EC One and employer of Goldsmiths’ Company apprentices
Celebrating exceptional craftspeople: Community recognition
At the Foundation Programme end-ofyear celebration, we recognised the next generation of master craftspeople: Institute of Professional Goldsmiths (IPG) Award: Raphael Moreau, for consistent achievement across multiple disciplines.
Ian Morton Award: Isabella BalfourBernard, for creativity and flair, and Krishnan Vara, for dedication and precision. Presented by The Silversmiths and Jewellers Charity.
Paul Podolsky Award: Vincent Taylor, for Outstanding Achievement throughout his studies.
This year’s Goldsmiths’ Company Apprentice of the Year was awarded to Sophie Chapman, nominated by her peers for her exceptional craftsmanship and support within the apprentice community. 29 wins at the 2024 Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council Awards 15 Foundation Programme alumni and 14 Goldsmiths’ Company apprentices were awarded across categories. Among them was Charlie Lewis, the first Goldsmiths’ Company chasing apprentice in 30 years.
Trained by Chris Hurley and Stuart Ray, he received the prestigious Apprentice & Master Special Award, sponsored by Theo Fennell. His Masterpiece, the Grape and Vine Cup, was praised for its exceptional craftsmanship, demonstrating the synergy between apprentice and mentor.
Above: Apprentices hone their wax-carving skills during day release training
Clockwise from top left: Vincent Taylor, Isabella Balfour-Bernard, Krishnan Vara, Raphael Moreau, Charlie Lewis and Sophie Chapman
Growing and sustaining skills: Short courses and continuing professional development
Led by master craftspeople, our courses teach a combination of traditional and innovative technical skills. This year, we introduced five new short courses and welcomed four new tutors to the teaching team. The result? A 29% rise in participants versus last year.
28
practising craftspeople taught technical courses across 20 different topics
281
students took part in 37 technical short courses
Niall Paisley showed excellent practice and teaching ability. His years of knowledge within the industry come across very well. I would highly recommend this course.
Short course participant Claw and Rub-Over Setting with Niall Paisley
Providing financial support: Access Grants
Access Grants, funded by the Goldsmiths’ Foundation, make our technical and business programmes more accessible to all. This year, these grants covered the fees for 26 short courses, providing vital support to individuals experiencing financial hardship. A total of £11,454 was awarded to 32 aspiring makers out of 33 applicants. Notably, 38% of respondents to our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Survey were eligible for Free School Meals, highlighting the importance of breaking down barriers to participation.
Short course participants learning air tool setting techniques with Harry Forster-Stringer
Our partner activities
Securing the future of silversmithing:
Bishopsland Educational Trust
Our £40,000 grant supported eight early-career makers to develop technical and business skills ahead of a joint pop-up selling event, where trainees showcased their work and engaged with over 50 visitors.
Bishopsland’s focus on teaching the traditional heritage skills of a master silversmith adds a dynamic new string to the work of the National Trust’s Heritage and Rural Skills Centre at Coleshill and builds on the estate’s rich past as a creative hub inspiring creativity alongside tradition.
Christian Walker
General Manager of Buscot & Coleshill Estates
Uniting for the future:
Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Crafts Industry Roundtables (UKJSAC)
We hosted a series of UKJSAC roundtables
discussing challenges and opportunities in the jewellery sector, including the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ)’s co-hosted event with the Department for Media, Culture and Sport.
Workshops for under-supported 14–19 year-olds:
The Creative Dimension Trust
TCDT offers free workshops and work experience in fine hand skills, led by master craftspeople. These opportunities support young people to access vocational training, often in economically or geographically disadvantaged areas.
This year, we hosted TCDT workshops in enamelling and jewellery making, enabling 40 participants to exhibit their silver and enamel comets in a stunning window display at Fortnum & Mason.
50% of the 2023/24 Foundation Programme trainees completed workshops with The Creative Dimension Trust
A new era for jewellery education in Birmingham:
Aston University Engineering Academy (AUEA)
The Goldsmiths Institute, newly launched in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter with a £500,000 grant to AUEA from the Goldsmiths’ Foundation, is now delivering the new jewellery T Level. We’re collaborating pro bono with the academy and local employers to shape a curriculum responsive to industry needs, offering enhanced work placements and expanding access to the trade nationwide.
Future silversmiths develop their skills in Bishopsland’s new Coleshill home
UKJSAC senior leaders, representing the industry, meet at the Goldsmiths’ Centre
Flowers crafted by young people during a TCDT jewellery-making workshop
It’s an amazing thing to have this community of like-minded individuals in one place; there’s not really anywhere else like it
Finn
Hemmings Diamond mounting apprentice and Harriet Kelsall of Harriet Kelsall Jewellery
Honing the craft, one skill at a time
Harriet: “I’ve had the privilege of mentoring a few apprentices in my time, and everyone’s different. Finn is delightfully technical, which is wonderful because it brings a different string to our bow in the workshop than we’ve had before. We now bring together digital and hand-making skills even more firmly for customers.”
Finn: “My favourite thing about the Centre has been getting to experience so many other parts of the trade. I specialise in diamond mounting, and I also got to learn some design, silversmithing, and CAD, which has led me to doing a lot of the CAD and 3D printing here now. And I also had the opportunity to go from designing a piece to actually making it in six weeks.”
Fostering a collaborative community
Harriet: “I’m always trying to work out how everybody can reach their best potential. We’ve got a lot of people on our team who we brought on as apprentices and are now leading the team, which is really exciting. It’s like an orchestra, isn’t it? We all come together really well.”
Sustainability: it’s not supposed to be easy
Harriet: “There’s a lot of greenwashing that’s going on at the moment. Terms like ‘recycled gold’ and ‘lab grown diamonds’ can be misleading, because they are often used in purposefully confusing ways. Ethics is personal. So what we try to do is educate the consumer and help them make the choices that feel right for them. Look under the bonnet. Don’t make assumptions.”
Finn: “I’m most excited about our in-house casting at the moment, as it’s now entirely fair trade and also means we’re less reliant on outsourcing.”
I know that whatever I need, there’s definitely someone there to help me sort it out.
Finn
Time spent furthering your skills can be much more valuable than you might think
Hannah Bedford Jeweller
Developing a highly technical signature style
“ O ver the years I’ve been creating increasingly lavish pieces and bespoke commissions featuring very valuable stones. I’ve developed a very specific ‘granulation’ style in which jewels are set seamlessly within my granulation designs. I worked closely with Marcel Salloum, a master setter, who was able to achieve and perfect my desired signature aesthetic. As part of the grant, we have spent four days at his studio, and being in this environment has been incredible. His expertise and willingness to share his knowledge have made this a fantastic learning experience for us – not only in learning this specific setting technique but also building a broader understanding of his craft.”
Amplifying the possibilities
“ The grant allowed us to bring our signature technique and equipment in-house. Working under the new microscope allows us to examine each
stone closely, ensuring that everything undergoes thorough scrutiny. It has elevated everything we’re seeing to a different level. Furthermore, we are now looking at how to integrate our new team member Chloe into the training process – ensuring she can develop her own skill set to encompass these setting techniques. The ripple-effect in motion.”
A lifelong learning journey “ It’s my 20th year in business. During this time, the brand has evolved from a sole trader operation to a limited company with a small, all-female team. Having this grant, and clear objectives for the training, has really given me justification to carve out the time I needed for specialist training. It is also really motivating to have a focus and end goal. This process has helped me recognise that time spent furthering your skills can be much more valuable than you might think. It has fuelled my creative process and opened new doors of possibility.”
Craftsmanship is truly at the heart of what we do.
In five years, I’ve gone from not knowing a single thing to being trusted with making entire trophies on my own
Luke Potts Silversmithing apprentice and Robert Russell of Ottewill Silversmiths
Learning at lightning speed
Luke: “I started with the Foundation Programme to gain some skills before entering into the apprenticeship scheme with Ottewill’s. We mainly make large-scale pieces, which involve lots of different techniques like spinning, casting and soldering. The most enjoyable bit has been the hand-raising.”
Robert: “You’re soldering, hammering, raising, fitting and filing. Filing is actually one of the hardest techniques to master. Luke was trusted fairly early on with complete projects, which is quite rare, and in that way, he’s learned a lot more.”
Broadening skillsets
Luke: “On the evenings that I’ll go up to the Centre for an event, I’ll present myself in the best way possible because you don’t know, there might be potential customers attending. I suppose that puts me in a situation that I wouldn’t necessarily have
been in otherwise. I don’t generally see customers when they come into our workshop, as we’re all in the main workshop area making the pieces.”
A life force for the trade
Robert: “Apprenticeships are all about the longevity of the trade itself and of our business. These skills have been around for hundreds of years, and we’ve got modern technology now as well, so it’s about incorporating the old with the new.
That’s why the Goldsmiths’ Centre is good because they’re being taught by traditional craftspeople who work in the trade, know how to get the work done and to a price point. The Centre is great for Luke, because it’s another support network for him. With people like the Goldsmiths’ Centre and obviously the Goldsmiths’ Company supporting the trade, it should continue to thrive.”
We need apprentices to keep the trade going for the next two, three, four, five hundred years. It’s as simple as that.
Robert
Opening our doors to more makers
A welding workshop in full force at Ore Projects
Representation is of huge importance to the jewellery, silversmithing and allied industries. This year, we expanded our efforts to create equal opportunities for everyone, reaching diverse communities and embracing a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. After all, the more talent we nurture and the more makers we represent, the more our industry will flourish.
Our partner activities
Collaborative giving Joining forces to broaden equitable access to skills
Youth empowerment initiatives Opening career pathways for young people
Forging skills through metalworking and mentorship: Ore Projects
With a focus on empowering women, LGBTQIA+ individuals and young people, the Hertfordshire-based non profit teaches hands-on metalworking skills combined with career mentorship. Our £4,600 grant funded three oneday and one five-day workshops for 20 participants, who created custom projects, visited local craftspeople and explored career pathways.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the LGBTQIA+ Welding Workshop - it was one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had in years. The safe, supportive environment you’ve created at Ore Projects rekindled a creative spark in me.
Leigh Leal
Welding workshop participant, Ore Projects 20
women and LGBTQIA+ individuals, including 6 mid-career changers, explored metal fabrication pathways through Ore Projects
Empowering hard-to-reach communities through advanced skills: Flourish Jewellery Project CIC
For a third year, we granted £15,000 to support the Edinburgh-based social enterprise’s ATLAS Programme. Aiming to reduce barriers to jewellery education for the Global Majority and young people, the initiative introduces participants to advanced jewellery-making skills, culminating in a March 2025 exhibition showcasing their talent and hard work.
women recovering from trauma, who previously took part in Flourish Jewellery Project’s Fusion Programme, secured design opportunities, grants, courses, and mentorship
Above: Flourish participants learn to design and make jewellery at SilverHub Jewellery School
Supporting people experiencing homelessness: Pivot
Our partnership with the social enterprise, which provides creative skills training, mentorship and financial support to people experiencing homelessness, has gone from strength to strength in its second year. This year’s makers crafted 79 jewellery items for a pop-up event attended by 70+ industry and public attendees, generating £1,897 in sales.
If I could stay more in the Goldsmiths’ Centre, it would be very nice; you learn quicker and get to use the tools faster. It’s great to learn hands-on and with the big equipment too. I’d recommend this to a friend - it’s been lovely.
Alan Pivot participant
Developing skills in lost-wax casting:
The British Art Medal Society
Our £6,345 grant supported BAMS in advancing medal-making education and outreach. The funding covered casting costs for its 18th annual ‘New Medallist’ bursary, eight teaching sessions by professional artists across UK colleges, talks and presentations, and the creation of an invaluable guide to lost-wax casting.
Encouraging young makers through creative workshops: Awe & Alchemy
With a £5,300 grant, the Association for Contemporary Jewellery Northern Ireland provided hands-on jewellery workshops for 60 students and four teachers at local schools. Participants showcased their work at an exhibition in Armagh, exploring techniques like copper etching and pewter casting while gaining invaluable exposure to professional makers.
The standard of work for the exhibition was remarkable, and hosting a jewellery exhibition added significant value to our creative programme. We look forward to continuing our partnership with ACJSNI.
Christine Donnelly
Above: A Pivot maker leads a hands-on workshop on making acetate earrings, while Pivot makers get ready to sell their jewellery at a pop-up event at the Centre
Anne Earls Boylan from ACJSNI teaches students (Years 9–14) how to transfer designs onto copper
Creative Programme Development Manager, The Market Place
Inspiring creativity and career awareness through making: Meon Valley Studio and Alton Arts Festival
Hampshire jeweller Olivia Brown introduced 80 secondary school students and young mothers to jewellery making through hands-on workshops, raising awareness of creative careers in the industry. Funded by a £4,800 grant, the project offered free opportunities to create silver rings or pendants while learning essential techniques like piercing, soldering and polishing.
My daughter Freya is so proud of her silver ring. It’s beautiful. She talked nonstop during the 25-minute journey in the car on the way home. The conversation was almost as valuable as the ring itself.
Parent of secondary school student course participant Meon Valley Studio and Alton Arts Festival
Coming soon
Collaborative projects awarded funding this year, set to launch next year:
Embedding creativity in schools: Halley House School
Halley House School’s £10,000 grant will transform its art room into a sensoryfriendly creative space for 200 pupils aged 3–11, particularly SEND students. Informed by extensive research, the renovation will integrate drawing, research, photography and design skills, while partnerships with Autograph and Chisenhale Galleries and visits to the Centre will enrich students’ learning, laying the groundwork for future careers in the creative industries.
Setting Inclusivity in Dunblane:
The Central Scotland School of Jewellery
With the help of our £9,240 grant, CSSJ will be able to offer 48 subsidised places on next year’s three weekly class blocks to marginalised groups in Dunblane, addressing financial barriers that prevent access to creative education.
Building resilience and skills: Tomorrow’s Company
secondary school students and 8 young mothers were introduced to silversmithing through Meon Valley Studio
With our £10,000 grant, Tomorrow’s Company’s Future Skills Programme is equipping 14–15-year-olds, especially those from disadvantaged or SEND backgrounds, with essential skills for growth. Through 10 sessions, students will explore technical skills and career options in gold and silversmithing. We’re collaborating on the programme to ensure industry-relevant content.
Above: Meon Valley Studio shows a group of Year 8 students how to make and personalise a silver ring
Workshops aren’t conducive to women, and we’re trying to change that
Daniela Rubino and Lauren Wilson Co-founders of Ore Projects
Breaking barriers through hands-on learning
Daniela: “We met each other through a shared workspace, where there were just three of us female welders out of 50 members. It wasn’t a comfortable experience, and we bonded over a lack of inclusivity in the industry. The idea behind Ore Projects was to create an easier route into the industry by providing young adults with opportunities, skills and knowledge, and helping them to navigate a career in a creative industry or craft.”
Creating a safe, comfortable space to share skills
Lauren: “The Goldsmiths’ Centre helped us to fund our women-and-LGBTQIA+ workshops. Most workshop spaces aren’t conducive to women, and we’re trying to change that by giving participants agency and encouragement. For them to feel okay with the machine and say, “Let me have a go.” We pride ourselves in providing an extremely safe space to learn in a professional environment without judgement.”
A crucial craft
Lauren: “Underrepresented groups need more information and opportunities. One of the biggest barriers for young people gaining access to a creative career is not knowing that it exists. The other barrier is finances. The majority of people from lower socio-economic backgrounds aren’t encouraged to pursue a creative career because it’s seen as unstable. This can scare a lot of people away from pursuing their dreams.
It’s amazing when we meet students who have a real passion for making, especially if they didn’t realise they were capable, purely because they never had the opportunity to try it out before.”
Daniela: “A lot of schools are shutting down their DT departments, and education is becoming more and more academic and less hands-on. I believe that’s vital for people like me who learn by doing.”
Even if our participants leave the workshop and decide not to become a metalworker or fabricator, the experience of trying it out, whilst knowing they’re safe, is great for building confidence.
Lauren
It opens a whole layer of accessibility to children who struggle in the normal curriculum, but shouldn’t have to
Anne Earls Boylan Jeweller and Chair of the Association for Contemporary Jewellery Northern Ireland (ACJSNI)
Forming the ACJSNI
“ When I first moved back to Northern Ireland from London, I had a great belief in the creativity that existed here, because we’re a land of poets. But in the physical world, things weren’t quite the same. The result of The Troubles was a conservative society. Art education was limited to things that were easy to do and didn’t cost money. Working with metal was perceived as too risky. A lot of the makers were quite frustrated, so we formed a collective to see what we could achieve by a different route.”
Showing just how alive learning can be
“ The Centre was core to so many successes that underline our Awe & Alchemy exhibition. We were able to offer three schools the opportunity to work with materials they’d never encountered before. They gained an awful lot by not being in the classroom. You can’t really buy the magic on the faces as they opened their castings and said,
“Wow, look what I’ve just done!” They go back and embed that in more traditional learning styles, but with an understanding that’s clearer. Through kids, you also help educate adults about what it really means to be a jeweller. If you understand what it takes, you understand the value of what you’re paying for.”
The power of confidence
“Having the Goldsmiths’ Centre name behind the project brought a huge amount of kudos with it that shouldn’t be underestimated. It also gave us the confidence to push through the lack of funding in Northern Ireland because we haven’t got a Stormont. We kept pushing through because we believed in it, and we knew the Centre believed in us as well.”
The jewellery community in Northern Ireland is braver today than it was before.
Nurturing potential and building resilience
Cecilia Fein-Hughes and Rachael Taylor share Cece Jewellery’s journey as part of our Creative Links series
Now more than ever, building a successful jewellery or silversmithing business takes more than just craft skills or design talent. This year, our support programmes provided essential guidance to help even more businesses make it. Each programme builds on the last, offering tailored support at every stage of growth.
Our activities
Creative Links
Inspiring and connecting creative business owners through monthly talks, delivered in person and online
Finding new talent
Visiting universities and colleges across the UK to find tomorrow’s talented makers
Getting Started Online
Sharing business fundamentals for startups
Spotlighting Getting Started
Putting business basics into action through upskilling and exhibiting
Shine
Helping businesses master the art of selling and showcasing their work
Business Catalyst Grants
Empowering UK-based craftspeople to grow their businesses
Business Mentoring Programme
Equipping emerging businesses with confidence, guidance and practical advice to realise their plans
Business Diagnostic and Advice
Helping startups understand their potential and plan for success
Pop-ups and selling opportunities
Creating real-world environments for startups to excel in selling their work
Helping startups build vital connections:
Creative Links
Expanding beyond London for the first time this year, the event for creative practitioners and business owners to learn, share, and meet debuted at the Ulster Museum in Belfast and Elements Festival in Edinburgh.
A huge thank you! This ‘Storytelling for Jewellers’ talk has been one of the most helpful webinars I’ve attended.
Creative Links participant
Finding new talent
people connected through our Creative Links events and other workshops
End-of-year shows give us the chance to spot new talent and talk to students and staff about our training and support offer. This year, jeweller Matilda Press from the University of Dundee was named our One to Watch at New Designers. We
also stopped by Birmingham School of Jewellery, Ulster University, Fife College, Central Saint Martins and Royal College of Art.
Above: Jeweller Matilda Press is talent-spotted at New Designers
Introducing
business
essentials: Getting Started Online
Our free, one-week online course on launching and growing a business featured sessions from 20 industry specialists, as well as award-winning fine jewellery designer Sarah Ho as keynote speaker.
entrepreneurs empowered during Getting Started
Building on business skills: Spotlighting Getting Started
With fundamentals covered, Spotlighting Getting Started comes next. This year, 20 emerging makers built on the basics by mastering photography and live presentations before preparing pieces for the annual exhibition.
68%
of people who completed the Getting Started Online course applied to take part in the Spotlighting Getting Started programme
Creating a shop window: Shine
Our free Shine programme teaches people how to present and sell their collections through live events, an ecommerce showcase and an exhibition with a hugely successful opening night. Shine 2023 exhibitors Emma Wilson, Genevieve Schwartz, Kristina Merchant and Xinyi Chen were selected for Goldsmiths’ Fair’s Emerging Business Bursary in 2024.
Providing much-needed funds for businesses:
Business Catalyst Grants
Our Business Catalyst (Small) Grants support micro-businesses that have recently engaged in business consultancy or mentoring programmes. Recipients are selected by a curated group of our own team, guest judges and Centre committee members.
Since launching last year, we’ve helped nine people through £9,000 (plus VAT) in funding to accelerate the growth of their businesses with investments in new software, product development and marketing tools, opportunity to be paired with a mentor.
Our Business Catalyst (Large) Grants provide up to £7,000 to help businesses gain new skills, grow teams and offerings or expand into new markets. In 2023, we gave grants to Hannah Bedford and Ellis Mhairi Cameron to enhance and expand their craft.
223
craft and design enthusiasts met 15 makers at our Shine selling event
Above: Visitors admire work on display at the Spotlighting Getting Started exhibition
Above: Shine 2023 makers present their new collections at a pop-up selling event
Business Catalyst (Large) Grant recipient Ellis Mhairi Cameron practices pneumatic engraving
Putting plans into practice: Business Mentoring Programme
In its first year, the Business Mentoring Programme connected experienced professionals with the nine emerging businesses that took part in last year’s Business Diagnostic and Advice sessions. Over the next 12 months, they’ll benefit from highly focused guidance to successfully realise their business plans.
Understanding growth potential: Business Diagnostic and Advice
Buoyed by the success of last year’s inauguration, we doubled down on the programme this year with seven sessions for 33 jewellers and silversmiths. Select businesses received Access Grants in order to participate, as well as followon mentorship opportunities. Led by Liz Olver, our expert panel guided participants through thorough reviews of their brand, business, and products to help them figure out their next steps.
Since the meeting, I’ve reworked my business plan and designed a new collection. The session gave me a much-needed boost of motivation to keep growing my business.
Mairi Currie Founder of Mairi.co, Business Diagnostic and Advice for Jewellers and Silversmiths participant
Pop-ups and selling opportunities
Our retail events offer emerging jewellery and silversmithing businesses the chance to refine their skills in showcasing and selling their work in the real world. This year’s highlight was a collaboration with London Museum Docklands, which presented UK-made contemporary jewellery by five emerging designer-makers in-store ahead of the 2025 site opening.
It’s a joy to continue our partnership with the Goldsmiths’ Centre and to showcase these beautiful collections. It’s both a nod to London’s history and a real celebration of upcoming designers. We are looking forward to sharing this latest range with our visitors to London Museum Docklands.
Jo Mazzotta Retail Buyer at London Museum
Above: Shine alumni creations on display as part of a retail pilot at the London Museum Docklands
It’s a great environment for sharing ideas and taking part in projects
Will Sharp Jeweller
A platform for growth and connection
“I first got involved with the Goldsmiths’ Centre through Shine in 2019. Since then, it’s provided vital support, given me a platform and helped me find customers. About a year ago, I decided to go full-time with my business, and having someone to ask for advice was super helpful. It’s a big leap, but their experience reassured me that it would work out, especially if I was passionate about what I was doing.”
Finding your niche
“After graduation, I took part in some international shows. I exhibited at Galerie Marzee in the Netherlands and was part of the British Pavilion in Hangzhou, China. Being involved in prestigious shows early on was massive.
Taking part in the London Museum showcase made a real difference. I saw a clear increase in sales, and since then, my work has been sold in
several other museum and gallery shops. That’s where my work sits best. Finding a customer base is one of the hardest parts of this industry, but once you find it, you have to keep that momentum going.”
Widening access for a broader range of people
“C oming from a working-class background, I felt a real drive to prove that I could make this work. To make my work accessible for a broader range of people, I’ve always focused on producing affordable, sustainable and well-made jewellery. When it comes to inclusivity, it’s about making tools, materials and design more achievable for a wider audience, because I feel that jewellery can sometimes be an exclusive industry. It’s also about changing perceptions – plastic often gets a bad reputation, but when used thoughtfully, it can be a precious material.”
Having the Goldsmiths’ Centre there as a constant resource that I can always return to has been invaluable.
The Centre gave me permission to focus on the kind of work I wanted to create
Emma Louise Wilson Silversmith, jeweller and enameller
Finding one’s place
“ I had done creative business training before, but I always felt something was missing. Doing the Getting Started Online course in 2022 was just so helpful: it’s totally jewellery industry-related. It helped me understand where I fit into the industry and gave me permission to focus on one-off pieces and smaller collections rather than volume. That clarity helped me go on to London Craft Week and Shine, where I learnt to tell the story of my work and showcase it better.”
Building confidence and connections
“ Taking part in Shine and doing the Business Diagnostic and Advice Session last year gave me the confidence to call myself an artist jeweller. The support from the Centre sped everything up for me. I did Goldsmiths’ Fair this year, which I wouldn’t have been ready for otherwise. It was amazing to have an audience that understood the amount of work that goes into a piece and really wanted to know more. And to be next to all the other makers, people you’ve admired for so long, that’s a huge boost as well. It was just a massive community, and everyone was so lovely.”
Always improving
“My Business Catalyst Grant this year has made my process much quicker by funding moulds for my cast rings. The Centre has given me the permission and tools to focus on making better work, not just more work. Since school, I always knew that I wanted to do enamel work. It was just difficult when the kids were little because I didn’t have a space to do it in. I want to see what else I can do with it now, to get it to look more like watercolour.”
Every time I make something I want the next thing to be better than the last.
I’ve always had an open-door policy: anyone is welcome to come and knock on my door and ask me for technical advice
Anton Kata Founder and Creative Director of KATA Jewellery
Growing with the Centre
“ I’ve been with the Centre since the start. When my company was expanding and I needed my own space, I was fortunate enough to get a workshop as one of the first occupants there. Then straight away I took on my first apprentice, Jennifer, and from there I’ve grown with three apprentices through the Centre.
The Centre brings together so many aspects of the industry in one place. Everyone is willing to help. That supportive network has been invaluable since the beginning, and I still work closely with many of the people I first met there. It’s also an excellent meeting place. Customers walk into the building and immediately get a sense of the ‘wow’ factor.”
A lifetime of learning
“ I s tarted mentoring to help others in their journey forward. I try to instil in my team that it’s not about rushing to see how quickly you can get things done, but about perfecting your skills, gathering knowledge, and honing the craftsmanship needed to achieve that. Teaching pushes me to go back to basics, to relive what I was taught, and to discover new things in the process.”
Giving back to people and planet
“ We ethically source all our stones and are registered for single mine origin Fairmined Gold. Nothing gets wasted in our workshop – all the little bits of gold dust are swept up and refined for reuse. Our industry is very much about taking from the planet. We’re extracting gold from the earth, taking materials. You don’t just want to take; you want to give back. That’s why I enjoy being involved with apprentices and being part of my industry – to give a little bit back as well.”
By taking on more apprentices, I hope to create a brand that can be passed onto my children and the next generation.
Above: Anton Kata with his apprentice, Vincent Taylor
Community snapshots
Clockwise from top left: Getting Started Online alumni and tutors reconnect at the Spotlighting Getting Started exhibition celebration; the Goldsmiths’ Centre celebrates the Foundation Programme trainees at their end-of-year celebration; Samuel Waterhouse, Alice Fry, Jessica Jue (pictured) and Fred Rich take part in a Creative Links in-conversation panel; visitors admire historic and contemporary teawares at The Craft of Tea: 1660–2024 exhibition; short course participants learn pearl stringing with Anja Moehler; apprentices refine their jewellerymaking skills during day release training
Cultivating a network that knows no bounds
The Craft of Tea: 1660–2024 exhibition celebration sparks conversations
Our award-winning building is now home to over 130 makers and businesses alongside our tutors, speakers and trainees. Together, we form a solid support network that’s growing both on the inside and outside of these four walls, reaching jewellery and silversmithing communities near and far.
Our activities
Resident community
Enabling resident craftspeople and Gold Members to develop their craft and grow their businesses
Teaching team
Passing on vital skills and expertise from leaders in their field to anyone looking to learn
Exhibitions
Fostering connection, inspiration and conversation through a year-round programme
Trove
Uniting fine jewellers and silversmiths based in our workshops through pop-ups
Creative Inspiration Workshops
Sparking ideas through hands-on access to archives and collections in the UK
Making space to grow businesses: Our resident community
Providing workshop space is one vital way we support the jewellery and silversmithing industry. Some of the industry’s most skilled craftspeople benefit from affordable rates for a state-ofthe-art space to hone their craft, welcome customers and access all the suppliers they need on their doorstep.
These makers share ideas and expertise with each other every day, while also contributing to our training programmes. Whether it’s passing on vital skills to apprentices, sharing business knowledge with others, speaking on a variety of inspiring topics or evaluating funding applications, our community makes the Centre a thriving hub of activity in more ways than one.
Our partner activities
The Jewellery Collective
Strengthening trust and connections within the UK jewellery industry
Academic Roundtable
Collaborating with training providers to share information about and shape our programmes
resident craftspeople and Gold members thriving in our subsidised workshops and coworking spaces
Sharing craft skills and confidence:
Teaching team
Four new tutors joined our short course teaching team: a very warm welcome to Yeena Yoon, Bibi Cheung, Oscar Saurin and Anja Moehler. They join a team of over 60 practising master craftspeople and industry experts.
From setting techniques, silversmithing, 3D printing, business advice to mentoring, we work together to empower young trainees, emerging makers, practising industry members and anyone re-entering the workforce.
Within the Goldsmiths’ Centre, we are surrounded with amazing talent and the close relationships with the other workshops inspire a genuine sense of community, which we would not experience elsewhere.
The Cad-man (UK) Ltd team
Above: The Cad-man (UK) Ltd team in their workshop based at the Goldsmiths’ Centre
Inspiring conversations and new connections: Exhibitions
Our glass-covered atrium plays host to a captivating programme of free exhibitions, talks and workshops. This year, alongside Shine, Spotlighting Getting Started and Apprentice to Masterpiece, we featured collaborative exhibitions with the Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council and the Chitra Collection. The Craft of Tea: 1660–2024 brought together over 40 of the Chitra Collection’s remarkable silver objects, loans from The Pearson Silver Collection and The Goldsmiths’ Company Collection with works by contemporary makers, offering a rare view of tea’s evolution as ritual, symbol, and art form across eras.
The Craft of Tea provided a fresh assessment of a subject which has been much revisited and places the production of British tea silver, both past and present, in a truly global perspective.
Dr Tessa Murdoch FSA Chair of Huguenot Museum Rochester
Showcasing new collections through pop-up events: Trove
It’s been a record-breaking year for the pop-up retail event that connects makers to new audiences at the Centre. The initiative’s focus on showcasing and selling proved a success, with sales topping £17,500 from 216 shoppers and collectors; and that’s not including commissioning and bespoke enquiries.
1,573
people inspired through 19 talks, 7 workshops, 4 pop-ups and 2 private views (Shine 2024, Meet the Maker, talks, exhibition celebrations, Creative Inspiration Workshops and pop-ups with Trove, Pivot and Bishopsland Educational Trust)
Residents and Gold members present their jewellery and silversmithing collections as part of Trove
Above: Silversmiths Angela Cork, Simone ten Hompel and Chris Knight discuss the future of silverware with Charlotte Dew (pictured) alongside curators Dr Tessa Murdoch and John Andrew
Delving into the old to find the new:
Creative Inspiration Workshops
Our series of hands-on workshops, in partnership with UK archives and collections, offer designers, makers and craftspeople the chance to explore, handle, sketch and photograph historical items. This year, participants got unfettered access to objects from the Chitra Collection and the Dorothy Hogg Archive at the Goldsmiths’ Company Library and Archive. These workshops, held alongside related exhibitions, engaged 48 participants across seven sessions, sparking new ideas enriched by history.
It was an amazing opportunity to visit the Chitra Collection and learn so much about teapots, something I had never before considered I needed to know! It was a privilege to see and discuss so many treasures.
Lucy Anderson Creative Inspiration Workshop participant
Our partner activities
Building a strong, diverse and inclusive community: The Jewellery Collective
We awarded a £14,100 grant to this community-focused initiative, whose focus on strengthening trust and connections within the UK jewellery industry is crucial. The funding supported the Collective to recruit a dedicated Community Manager to ensure quality and consistency as they scale their national mentoring programme. The grant enabled the 2024 programme of six online and four in-person events in Brighton, Birmingham, Edinburgh and London, designed to overcome the challenges of globalisation that hinder face-to-face networking for jewellers, suppliers, manufacturers and retailers.
Forging
tight networks:
Academic Roundtable
Having a strong understanding of the educational landscape allows us to tailor our support for graduates aspiring to enter the industry. But we can only do so with strong collaboration across the UK’s educational and industry sectors. This year, our annual event brought together academics from 13 training providers and other experts to discuss shared challenges, explore opportunities and forge stronger connections.
training providers welcomed at our Academic Roundtable
Above: Participants sketch historic teapots during a Creative Inspiration Workshop in partnership with the Chitra Collection
It’s incredibly educational, but it’s also given me an immediate connection to the
community
Yeena Yoon Jeweller and founder of Yeena Yoon Studio
Getting in and growing a business
“As a professional architect looking to enter the jewellery industry, the Goldsmiths’ Centre gave me a fast-paced way in. It’s a hub for the trade, not just for training, so it gave me a natural anchor point to go and ask questions.
Participating in Trove is important because it brings you visibility. The more you do, the more people understand what you’re about.”
Fuelling passion through knowledge and wisdom
“I was able to invite Giovanni Corvaja to the Centre to share his knowledge on gold for an ‘In Conversation’ talk, and hopefully spark something for people in the community. I’ve also run short courses, like one on alloying gold, to share my experience with someone who wants to have that gateway. So then I become the gateway for a novice to be able to do something like that. These opportunities give people a taster to explore their interests and decide where to go next, while helping me reflect on and condense my own experiences.”
A community that nurtures and supports
“The Centre has created a great sanctuary. There’s a sense of belonging and stability for people like us because it’s a very volatile market. I have a group of people that are there to support me, which makes it a place of safety and nurture – a vital ingredient for any creative being. The events and exhibitions make you feel part of a collective of many. So it’s not just about you; it’s about connection, community, opportunity, and a place for growth. There aren’t many places like that in jewellery.”
The team at the Centre is constantly reminding us that it is a collective space, and that in itself makes us more proactive.
By bringing people from across the sector together, the Centre is fostering mutual inspiration and learning for everyone involved
Evelyn Earl and Grace Fannon Curators of the Chitra Collection
An ever-evolving partnership
Evelyn: “Our partnership with the Goldsmiths’ Centre makes our historic collection relevant for a very engaged audience. For a number of years, Foundation Programme trainees have visited the Chitra Collection for contextual studies. In 2023, we presented the idea of organising a joint exhibition: The Craft of Tea: 1660–2024. The concept of displaying contemporary makers’ work alongside our collection came from the curators, Charlotte Dew and Gregory Parsons, and this became the unique selling point of the exhibition.”
New perspectives
Grace: “The exhibition brought relevance to our historic objects, showing the continuity of design and how tea has continued to inspire not just art forms but also practical innovations. What stood out to me was how some of the thematic dialogues between the contemporary and historic pieces helped us understand our historic objects better. For example, David Clarke’s piece – an antique
teapot filled with lead and tilted at an angle –really drew attention to the darker history of tea. Tea has connected people and inspired art, comfort and reflection, but it’s also tied to empire, exploitation, labour, and globalisation.”
Inspiring tomorrow’s makers
Evelyn: “The metal artist Adi Toch, whose Little Beak Teapot featured in the exhibition, organised a visit to the collection, including a tour and a handling session, for her Royal College of Art students. At the end, the students shared considered responses about how the collection would inspire their practice. Some were thinking about objects involved in ritual and were inspired by that aspect of tea drinking. Others were fascinated by specific enamelling techniques, like champlevé, having seen designs they might want to incorporate into their work. I think this is a particularly clear impact of the exhibition – inspiring the next generation of designers and makers.”
It’s about bringing the historic and contemporary together while thinking about the future.
Grace
I feel very privileged to be part of the Centre’s cohort of
emerging makers
Jo Boateng Jeweller and artist
A steep learning curve
“I began my journey into jewellery making just over two years ago. At the time, I was working independently from home. Wanting to develop my skills further, I enrolled in classes at Morley College, then applied for Shine 2023. Within two months, I had completed all my research, attended events and started networking. Without the support and insights I’ve gained from the Centre, the process would have been challenging.”
Saying yes to opportunities
“The programmes have pushed me to think more commercially and strategically, helping me to market myself as a maker and develop my practice. I met Brian Hill at the Shine pop-up, who encouraged me to apply for the Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council awards – and I ended up winning one of the categories. This exposure connected me to new opportunities and led to numerous invitations to participate in other initiatives. I’ve also formed strong friendships
with many other makers through the Centre, where people are incredibly willing to share their knowledge.”
Finding
confidence
“Being part of the Centre’s emerging maker cohort has boosted my confidence and reassured me that my work has merit. It has challenged my thoughts and feelings about my work and helped me overcome imposter syndrome. Through mentoring, networking and skills exchange, I have a much clearer perspective on the direction I want to develop.”
At the Goldsmiths’ Centre, there is a space for everybody.
Here’s to our incredible residents
Our residents are the heartbeat of our thriving community, contributing their unique skills, passion and creativity to shape the jewellery, silversmithing and allied industries. Together, they inspire, support and elevate one another as they push the boundaries of their craft.
Ana Thompson Fine Jewellery
Andrew Pollack Diamond Setter
Anja Moehler
Ashley Mikal
A&W Setters
Benjamin Hawkins
Benjamin James Ryan
Bezant London
Bobby White Ltd
Cad-man (UK) Ltd
Carol Clift
Clio Saskia
Clive Burr
Coline Assade
Crux London
Daisy Simpson
David Hawkes
Deborah Cadby
Design Build Cast
Edward Xú
Elliot-Fitzpatrick
Ellis Mhairi Cameron
Emefa Cole
Flora Bhattachary
Francesca Marcenaro
Gala Creations
Genevieve Schwartz
Gonny van der Vegte
Graham Saggers Engraving
Harriet Morris
Henry Pruwer
Holly O’Hanlon
Imogen Belfield
Irena Chmura
Jennifer Bloy Designs
Jessie Harris London
Jessica Jue
Karina Martus Fine Jewellery
Karlin Anderson
KATA Jewellery
Katherine A Brunacci Jewellery
Kelly Tsoi
Kerry Seaton
Kim Joux Jewellery
Kyosun Jung
Laura Bezant
Le Ster
Leonid Dementiev
Leo de Vroomen
LIA LAM
Margaux Clavel
Melanie Eddy
Mike Van Buskirk
MOCIELLI Fine Jewellery
Molly Wu
Natalie Perry Jewellery
Olalere Fagbulu
Oxx Jewellery London
Paul York
Philip Jennings Jewellery Limited
Rachel Balfour Jewellery
Rebecca Keating
Rebecca Maddock
Rosie Odette
Rupert Todd
Sam James Engraving Ltd
SAM HAM
Samantha Salmons
Sarah Dorans Jewellery
Scarlett Cohen French
Sean Simms
Shakti Ellenwood Precious Jewellery
Signets and Seals
Steve Stavrou
S.V.S. Designs
The Rock Hound
Tressa Amirthanayagam, Russian Blue Jewellery
Won Diamonds
Yeena Yoon Studios
Zelda Cave
Deepening our commitment to the climate
Lemel and scrap silver are melted down in a workshop about recycling silver, taught by Elisavet Messi
Working to reduce our environmental footprint and share best practice is integral to the way we work, and it has been for years. This year, we’ve begun working collaboratively with the Goldsmiths’ Company and the London Assay Office on an organisation-wide Environmental Strategy and Climate Action Plan.
Our activities
Sharing resources and knowledge
Helping our students learn about sustainable practices
Offsetting our carbon footprint
Improving our building and reducing our environmental impact
Working more sustainably through daily operations
Using fewer resources and creating less waste
Sharing resources and knowledge about sustainable practice
Collaboration sparks change. We empower trainees to embed sustainability into their craft, from exploring traceability to reusing materials.
This year, Elisavet Messi led workshops on turning lemel and scrap silver into usable resources, helping reduce reliance
on new materials. We also introduced sustainability assessments, measuring trainees’ understanding at the start and end of their courses.
Working with Copenhagen Commitment, we held two in-person events and an online session, inspiring makers to explore ethical, responsible futures in jewellery and silversmithing.
The practice of turning scrap metal into finished jewellery is taught across all our training programmes
I expanded my understanding of sustainability in the jewellery sector, a reassurance that I am on the path to a mindfully sustainable and ethical practice. I safely melted scrap silver into square wire, which I’ve since replicated in my own workshop.
Course participant Fundamentals of Metallurgy: Melting and Bullion with Elisavet Messi
Offsetting the carbon footprint of our building
Our building is the cornerstone of our sustainability journey. From bird boxes in our biodiversity garden to photovoltaic cells and rainwater harvesting, every detail contributes to reducing our environmental impact.
This year, we launched an ambitious Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) programme to replace our existing heating and cooling systems, with the ultimate goal of phasing out gas boilers entirely. This project is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Goldsmiths’ Foundation.
Working more sustainably through daily operations
Sustainability starts at home. Helen Dobson, our Programme Manager, is working to align our goals with the Goldsmiths’ Company and London Assay Office in a unified sustainability strategy.
In the Common Room, split recycling bins have improved waste management, and reusable glass milk bottles saved 415 plastic bottles this year. Outdated PCs found a second life at Mer-IT Digital, a local social enterprise offering IT training.
Cycling has thrived at the Centre, with secure bike storage and a free safety clinic keeping the community road-ready.
At Bench café, we work with local and ethical suppliers, and through our partnership with Well Grounded, we funded two barista traineeships for Londoners facing socio-economic barriers, championing both skill development and sustainable practices.
At Bench, we partner with Company of Cooks to serve locally sourced food. We donate £2 per kilo of coffee (£1,200 this year) to Well Grounded, funding barista training for unemployed individuals.
Andy Phelps
Ops Director for Company of Cooks
Above: The Goldsmiths’ Centre has won awards for our building’s design and sustainability credentials
Bench Café serves expertly brewed coffee, with each cup supporting a meaningful cause
Acknowledgments
Image captions Front Cover (clockwise): Silversmith Ray Walton mentors apprentices; Xinyi Chen showcases her collection at Shine 2023; Foundation Programme trainees explore historic teaware at the Chitra Collection and develop their design skills; the audience engages in the Giovanni Corvaja talk. Pages 8-9 (left to right): Business Catalyst (Large) Grant recipient Ellis Mhairi Cameron practices engraving; visitors explore the London Museum Docklands shop and the Spotlighting Getting Started exhibition; Anja Moehler teaches pearl stringing; Giovanni Corvaja and Yeena Yoon speak to a captivated audience; silver teaware showcased as part of The Craft of Tea: 1660–2024 exhibition; industry members and loved ones gather for the Foundation Programme’s end-of-year celebration; women learn welding skills with Ore Projects; Oscar Saurin teaches silversmithing skills. Back cover: Short course participant learns rub-over setting techniques
Photography Bishopsland Educational Trust, Ellis Mhairi Cameron, Emma Louise Wilson, Flourish Jewellery Project, Jo Boateng, Julia Skupny Photography, Meon Valley Studio, Ore Projects, Rene Gonzalez, Richard Valencia, Steve Hall, The Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council, The Goldsmiths’ Company, Will Sharp Writing Opening Line – openingline.co Design Fit Creative – fitcreative.ltd.uk
The Hummingbird Masterpiece by Amy Gibson, former apprentice of Alex Monroe.
