It's time for the Jewellers Academy Support Fund – March edition. Every other month, we’re giving £1,000 to a jeweller to invest in growing their business – and how you spend it is entirely up to you. Plus, the winner will also receive a 1-hour mentoring session in either business or jewellery making to help take things to the next level.
Read MoreIn this week's episode, Kim Thomson chats with Aime Cox from Studio Cotton about her journey as an entrepreneur, the importance of passion in business, and how to make SEO accessible and engaging for small businesses.
They discuss the power of SEO over social media, the significance of optimizing product descriptions, and leveraging trends for product collections. Aime also shares practical tips for enhancing online presence, including the importance of product descriptions, photography, and regular website updates.
Read MoreSea glass jewellery is a lovely style of jewellery making bringing together nature and craftsmanship, transforming weathered glass fragments into stunning, wearable art. Each piece of sea glass has been naturally shaped and frosted by the ocean, making it truly one-of-a-kind. Whether you're drawn to the organic charm of tumbled glass or the timeless elegance of silver settings, there are several ways to turn your beachcombing treasures into unique jewellery. In this post, we’ll explore the most popular techniques—drilling, bezel setting, and claw setting—along with expert tips and tricks to help you create your own sea glass jewellery with confidence.
Read MoreIn 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!
Read MoreThis 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!
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreIn 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!
Read MoreThank you so much to everyone that joined me live for the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay 2025/26 Open Day. If you weren’t able to attend or would like to watch again you can find the link as well as answers to some of your questions.
Read MoreReady 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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreAt Jewellers Academy, we offer four one-year Jewellery Diplomas but which should you choose? Find out about the Diploma courses, who they are for and what you will learn. There’s also a handy quiz that checks your experience level and lets you know which Diploma is right for you.
Read MoreThank you so much to everyone that joined me live for the Advanced Jewellery Diploma 2025/26 Open Day. If you weren’t able to attend or would like to watch again you can find the link as well as answers to some of your questions.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreThe Fishtail Stone Setting is a very popular setting right now but what is it and how is it made?
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreI’m thrilled to announce that the Jewellers Academy Brighton website is now live and open for booking in-person workshops—woohoo!
Find out more about the jewellery school we are opening on the south coast of England.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreWith 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.
Read MoreAt this time, just a few days before the start of a new year, my thoughts often turn to my hopes and plans for the coming year. If you have been thinking about starting or growing your jewellery business and wondering what your next step should be I would love to help.
It's funny isn't it that we know we spend time learning and practising our craft when it comes to jewellery making but often neglect the business side, thinking we can just figure it out. But if we don't know the right steps to take we're just using trial and error, hoping to stumble on the way to grow. That is not a strategy and is the recipe for not making sales, getting disheartened, worrying that it will never happen for you and, ultimately, giving up before you've got to the good bit.
It's time to get strategic, do the things that are proven to work and fast-track your business success.
The brand new 1 year JEWELLERY BUSINESS ACADEMY is designed to help you do just that. It starts on 6th January 2025 and I would LOVE you to join.