Flawless Jewellery sponsors British paratriathlon champion

Family-run Flawless Jewellery, based in Kent, has announced a sponsorship agreement with British paratriathlon champion Cassie Cava. Cava, 24, who was born with clubfeet, broke her right foot six years ago and underwent reconstruction surgery, which was not as successful as hoped. After years of painful hospital appointments she made…

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Apprentices ‘can earn 270% more’ than graduates, says Barclays

Apprentices can earn 270% more over their lifetime than university graduates, according to new research from Barclays and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). The report – Productivity and Lifetime Earnings of Apprentices and Graduates – says the average gap in lifetime earnings potential between apprentices and graduates…

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‘Heavy discounting’ spurs highest online sales growth in 20 months

Heavy discounting has spurred the highest growth in online sales for 20 months, according to the latest IMRG Capgemini eRetail Sales Index. The monthly report found e-commerce grew 19% in July compared with the same month last year, representing a 20-year high for the index and a continuation of a…

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Birmingham Jewellery Quarter reaches another milestone in quest for £2m investment

Several roads around Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter are set to close this weekend to make way for a major filming production. The closures – beginning at 7am on 19 August until 6am the following day – are for the purpose of transforming the Jewellery Quarter’s streets into a “futuristic America” for…

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Jewellery firms named in Small Business Saturday’s ‘Small Biz 100’

Six small jewellery firms have been named among the 100 small businesses in the UK to be celebrated by Small Business Saturday. The businesses will be among those featured one per day for the 100 days leading up to the dedicated Small Business Saturday on 3 December. The jewellery companies…

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After Brexit, the show must go on

The post-Brexit dust appears, at least for the time being to have settled. Although the gold price shot up in the immediate aftermath, the pace of increase does appear to have slowed. Now that the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 have calmed down and regained their initial losses, it’s possible…

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London Diamond Bourse announces EGM to discuss future location

The London Diamond Bourse (LDB) has announced it will hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) in the wake of data showing leases in the Hatton Garden area are set to skyrocket. The bourse hopes the meeting will provide an opportunity to consult its members as to the various options available…

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Hallmarking slumps 11.8% in July

The total number of hallmarked items dropped 11.8% in July, a decrease of 92,333 pieces when compared with the same month last year. New figures from all four of the UK’s assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, which found the total number of hallmarked items in July…

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H&T Pawnbrokers’ first half profits soar 42.3%

The UK’s largest pawnbroking group, H&T, has revealed a jump in profits in the first half of the year, despite “challenging trading conditions”. In its unaudited trading update for the six months ending 30 June 2016, the company reported profit before tax of £3.7m – up 42.3% compared with the…

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Holts Academy partners with Claire Adler for advice seminar at IJL

Holts Academy has announced it has partnered with writer and communications consultant, Claire Adler, for seminar at this year’s International Jewellery London (IJL). The partnership will see Holts and Adler deliver a tailor-made version of her ‘Media Mindset Workshop’, which will be designed to show jewellers how to maximise trade,…

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