Technical FAQ

Below you can find some our frequently asked questions. Click on the questions below to reveal the answers.

1. I would like to find a good spinner/engraver/model maker. Can you recommend anyone?

   The company provides an impartial service to the Trade and we list contacts on our supplier database.There you can find a wealth of information on suppliers as well as training resources and bullion dealers.

2. I want to expand my business. Can the Goldsmiths’ Company help?

   The Company is very supportive of business initiatives through bursaries to undergraduates, Industry training resources and networking events. However, we are unable to fund individual businesses.

   If you are experiencing hardship and are a freeman, there may be assistance available through the Company’s Hardship Fund. For details please contact The Silversmiths and Jewellers Charity by email, info@thesjcharity.co.uk.

3. I understand that the Company provides funding to support the Craft and Industry but I am unclear as to whether I am eligible as an individual. Can you clarify?

   The general ‘rule of thumb’ is that we do not support individuals, with the exception of the Goldsmiths’ Company Apprenticeship Scheme where we pay a training grant to a Master.

   We do not provide grants to students studying on degree or other courses or to businesses in need of capital investment.

   We welcome applications from organisations undertaking projects that are of proven benefit to the Industry as a whole, particularly in the areas of high level skills training or close-to-market research. Applications should be made in the first instance to the Director of Technology and Training.

   If you have fallen ill, or have become incapacitated and are unable to work, The Silversmiths and Jewellers Charity may be able to help. Please contact the charity by email, info@thesjcharity.co.uk.

4. I would like to take on a Goldsmiths’ Company Apprentice but I am not a freeman.

   The Goldsmiths’ Company has supported indentured (contracted) apprentices since 1334 and is very proud of its long history in this area. However, at this time it is unable to provide support to Masters who are not Freemen of the Company.

   The Company does offer non-financial support, such as access to technical resources, Goldsmiths’ Company Masterclasses and industry seminars.

   If you are interested in becoming a Freeman, the Company welcomes applications from across the Trade. Please contact the Department for more information or an informal chat.

5. I would like start a career in the Jewellery Industry. Can you give me any information?

   There are many rewarding careers within the industry and different routes you might be interested in taking. To help you discover which career might be right for you, we are developing an interactive career route map to help you find out more about courses, what to expect and the potential costs of training.

   Please visit our undergraduate and postgraduate pages to learn about the ways we can support you during your studies.

   If you are interested in Apprenticeships click here.

   If you would like to find a list of colleges in the UK that provide training in silversmithing and jeweller, please visit our Technical Portal.

    

6. I want to go on to further study after my degree. Are you able to provide funding for me?

   The Goldsmiths’ Company is unable to support individual applications for funding. The Company supports students through its bursaries and competitions as well as through its support for trade events.

   Other charitable trusts may offer individual financial assistance:
   The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Fund
   The Sir John Cass Foundation
   Churchill Scholarships
   Wingate Foundation
   

   A full list of potential funding bodies will be available via your college or local library.

7. I would like to find out more information about the Getting Started course

   If you are a recent graduate from a Jewellery or Silversmithing course you are eligable to apply for a free place on our renowned course that has helped launch the careers of many celebrated jewellers and silversmiths. Click here to find out more