The Christmas selling season is well and truly upon us now and we recommend having gift vouchers/gift certificates/gift cards available. Some customers find it hard to decide or want their loved one to choose their own present. Plus they’re great for when you get last minute shoppers! But how do you create and manage sales of gift vouchers? Here are our top tips.

In this week's episode, I’m joined by Kelly Twigg, and we’re talking all things sea glass. She shares her top 5 tips including how to find the best pieces, different ways to set them, and the do’s and don’ts of drilling (because yes, sea glass can crack if you're not careful!). Whether you're just starting out or already working with sea glass, Kelly’s expert advice will help you take your designs to the next level. Plus, she spills the details on her brand-new sea glass jewellery course—currently at a special discounted price!

This week on the Jewellers Academy podcast, Jess is chatting with the amazing Alice of Alice Catherine Jewellery about her journey from total beginner to running her own thriving jewellery business on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. Alice shares the highs and lows of building her brand, growing her team, and what it’s really like to run a jewellery shop in a remote location. We also dive into her experience with the Diploma in Silver Jewellery — how it shaped her skills and gave her the confidence to go pro. Plus, we talk about the power of community, mentoring, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. If you’re dreaming of turning your jewellery passion into a business, this episode is packed with wisdom and inspiration!

In this week's episode, Elin Horgan speaks with Instagram specialist Lou Chudley about the evolving landscape of Instagram marketing in 2025. They discuss the importance of Instagram for small businesses, recent updates to the platform, the shift towards video content, and effective strategies for engaging with audiences.

Lou emphasizes the value of showing the creative process and encourages listeners to embrace video and stories to connect with their followers. Lou also discusses common mistakes to avoid and provides creative content ideas to engage audiences.

In this week's episode, Jess and Anna discuss the exciting world of silver metal clay, a versatile material for creating beautiful jewellery at home. They introduce a free five-day course designed for beginners, covering various techniques and projects, including personalized jewellery, embellishments, eco-friendly practices, adding gold, and finishing techniques. Metal clay is a really accessible way for making silver jewellery and offers so many creative possibilities. Listen now to find out more!

Ready to take your stone-setting skills to the next level?

This week on the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jess sits down with master stone setter Scott McIntyre to dive deep into the precision, tools, and artistry behind advanced techniques—especially fishtail setting.

In this episode of the Jewellers Academy podcast, Jess and Anna discuss the financial aspects of jewellery training, exploring how much one should invest in their education and the importance of continuous learning. They share personal experiences and insights on overcoming financial fears, the value of investing in oneself, and practical solutions for financing training, including payment plans and selling jewellery.

In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy podcast, jeweller Iain Sainsbury shares his journey from corporate career to full-time jeweller, covering his unique signature style that incorporates advanced techniques like sand casting and stone setting. He reflects on his experiences of the Jewellers Masterclasses, the importance of community support, and the motivation behind his creative process. Iain also delves into the challenges of learning new skills and the satisfaction that comes from overcoming obstacles and mastering jewellery making techniques.

In this week's episode, Kelly Twigg shares her journey from a part-time jewellery hobbyist to a dedicated jeweller enrolled in the Jewellers Academy diploma program. She discusses her initial experiences with jewellery making, the transition to self-employment, and the importance of learning new techniques to grow her business. Kelly highlights the supportive community within the diploma program, the various projects she has undertaken, and how the experience has reignited her creativity. She also emphasizes the value of sharing her journey through the Diploma Diaries, connecting with others, and the challenges and triumphs of being a jeweller.

In this week’s episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jess dives into the lessons she’s learned from years in the jewellery industry to share 10 things (actually it’s 11!) she wouldn’t do if starting a jewellery business in 2025.

Whether you’re just beginning your journey or already running a jewellery business, Jess’s insights offer valuable reminders and fresh perspectives on avoiding common pitfalls and focusing on what truly drives growth.

In this week’s episode of the podcast, Jess, invites you to join the FREE Kickstart Challenge, a five-day program designed to help jewellers set intentions and goals for their businesses. On this course, you will set a vision and action plan for your business in 2025 as well as plan your revenue generating activities for bringing in the money.

With another new year approaching, Jess and Anna talk about an alternative to New Year’s resolutions. Choosing a word for the year can set a positive intention for your year ahead and guide your actions and decisions. Anna and Jess talk about the words they have chosen for 2025 and reflect on words they’ve chosen in previous years and how they shaped their years.

Happy new year! Today on the Jewellers Academy podcast I am speaking with Anna Campbell about our word for 2024.

Have you ever chosen a word of the year? If you like starting a new year with a fresh perspective have a listen to this podcast to find out more about how to choose your word of the year and how it can be better than trying resolutions

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Meet the winners of our JewelFund grant for 2023!

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Applications for JewelFund 2023 are now open! And the grant is now doubled. Two £2000 grants are available. What would you spend the money on for your jewellery business? Find out how to apply

Jessica Rose talks you through the assessment requirements for the Diploma courses.

You may be wondering what to do if you have a holiday planned or need to take some time away from the bench, in this post Jessica Rose talks you through your options.

Find out about the differences between our Membership options and which one is perfect for you

I am often asked, I work full time, can I fit in completing a Diploma course too? The answer is yes! Our Diploma programmes are designed to be flexible with additional time built in for catching up. Here, I share some tips on how to schedule your time during the Diploma.

At the end of the year, students on the Diploma in Fine Jewellery with Jewellers Academy design and make a Final Project to showcase the skills they’ve learnt in the course. The brief is open to ensure they can bring their own style and creativity, with the students tasked to create three pieces that form a cohesive collection. Students also provide a summary for their mentor explaining their inspiration, how they developed the design and the techniques involved.

In this blog post takeover, Diploma Graduate Zoe Emmett shares her process and inspiration in creating her three-piece collection.