ADVICE: Backdated overtime claims

In light of the recent decision by the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) decision that some people working overtime could claim for additional holiday pay, we’ve asked an employment solicitor to explain the situation and what it means for you. By ABIGAIL HALCARZ We have been awaiting this landmark judgment for…

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Staff threatened at gunpoint in Halifax jewellery store raid

Police are appealing for witnesses after staff at Lister Horsfall Jewellers, Halifax, were threatened at gunpoint before gunmen made off with a quantity of watches. The raid, which police have described as “extremely frightening”, happened shortly before 5pm on Thursday, February 5, and involved three men who entered the store…

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COMMENT: A background on birthstones

History of birthstones Each month of the year correlates to a specific birthstone. It is believed that the origins of birthstones date back to the Breastplate of the High Priest written about in the Old Testament. The breastplate had twelve gemstones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. It was thought…

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Endless Jewelry reports $30m sales in dazzling first year

The new leather bracelet and charms brand Endless Jewelry has had a storming first year of trading, according to its CEO and founder, Jesper Nielsen. Nielsen told Jewellery Focus the company turned over $30 million in its first full year of trading, and has big plans for expansion in the year ahead.…

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Creatives urged to seek funding for IP audits

Creative businesses could be sitting on tens of thousands of pounds worth of intellectual property (IP), according to Yorkshire law firm Hlw Keeble Hawson.  Deborah Niven, an IP specialist at Hlw Keeble Hawson, has urged SMEs in the creative sector to take advantage of government funding and audit their intellectual…

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Jewellery and Watch Birmingham bursary award winner announced

Jewellery and Watch Birmingham (J&WB) has announced that Sophie Lomax, a recent graduate from the Birmingham School of Jewellery, has been awarded the £5,000 bursary for 2015.  Launched in conjunction with the Birmingham School of Jewellery, the announcement follows an initial application process and a series of interviews with prospective…

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LDC: Empty shops show North-South divide

The North-South divide is clearer than ever with the South having one in ten shops lying empty while the North has one in five, according to the Local Data Company (LDC).  LDC, which analyses over 3,000 town centres, shopping centres and retail parks, said that despite the deepening regional divide,…

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Polished diamond prices continue decline in January

Demand for polished diamonds improved in January but prices continued to drop, according to the RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI).  The price of 1-carat laboratory graded diamonds fell 0.4% in January, the price of 0.30-carat diamonds dropped by 0.9%, price for 0.50-carat diamonds declined 1%, while price for 3-carat diamonds was…

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Weston Beamor student design competition winner announced

Lucy Whitehouse has been announced as the Weston Beamor student design competition winner, edging the award over three other short-listed candidates.  The winner of the competition, an annual event for second year students taking Birmingham City University’s (BCU) Higher National Diploma in Jewellery and Silversmithing, was announced at Weston Beamor’s…

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F Hinds celebrates the opening of three stores in just one day

Family jewellers F Hinds has announced that it opened three stores in just one day – located in Stockport, Walsall and Bristol. The stores, which were officially opened on Sunday February 1, involved a 500 mile round trip, three Lord Mayors and 40 feet of red ribbon. The first to…

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