The Goldsmiths’ Centre launches business growth programme

The Goldsmiths’ Centre has launched a ‘Business Growth Programme’, designed to offer business skills, short courses and talks tailored to the fine jewellery and the contemporary silversmithing sectors.

Led by experts and industry practitioners, this programme aims to provide entrepreneurs with the tools to craft their business skills and implement beneficial changes in their practice.

All courses on the programme are backed up by industry research, commissioned by the Goldsmiths’ Company, which provides unique insights into consumer behaviour in the UK.

Charles Benoliel, production director of Design, Build, Cast, said: “I’ve been trained throughout my career and also at university as a goldsmith and designer. But, when it came to running this company there were lots of things that I didn’t know.

“The ‘Business Growth Programme’ helped me with the financial side and all the other things that I don’t actually get access to in my day-to-day working. It gives you access to the people who can advise you the right way to do things.”

Peter Taylor, director of the Goldsmiths’ Centre, said: “Research carried out by the Goldsmiths’ Centre in 2016 with 248 businesses based in the UK clearly indicates that fine jewellers and contemporary silversmiths are extremely ambitious, but often lack the training to develop their businesses.”

He added: “We are now able to offer wide spanning intensive courses and one-off workshops, as part of our ‘Business Growth Programme’ for fine jewellers and contemporary silversmiths, that will give them access to the right support, which has historically been out of reach of most small businesses.”