Jewellers Academy Podcast

In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, host Anna Campbell chats with tutor and mentor Laura-Jayne of Small Dog Silver about the Foundation in Silver Jewellery course - the perfect starting point for beginners wanting to make beautiful jewellery from home. Laura-Jayne shares her passion for mentoring new makers, watching them grow from total novices to confident creators. Together...

In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jessica Rose is joined by Anna Campbell, Kelly Twigg, and Emma René to introduce something brand new: the first-ever Jewellers' Visibility Retreat, happening this September in Brighton, England. This intimate, in-person, three-day event is designed for jewellery business owners who are ready to get seen, connect deeply with their brand, and...

In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jess talks with fine jeweller and tutor Jane Taylor, to talk about her creative journey into jewellery making. From childhood badge-making to running her own boutique jewellery store in Godalming, UK. Jane shares about the winding road that led her to jewellery. From early experiments with polymer clay, to leaving an apprenticeship in search...

In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jess talks with Mahroz Hekmati, a talented jeweller, enamelling specialist, and core member of the teaching team at the new Jewellers Academy Brighton studios. Mahroz shares her journey from Iran to Canada and eventually to the UK, tracing her transformation from a graphic design student to an award-winning jeweller whose work has been worn...

In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy podcast, host Elin Horgan is joined by Hannah Royce-Greensill, founder of Slab Jewellery, whose path to becoming a full-time jeweller began in an unexpected place, freelance web design. Hannah shares how she balanced both careers in the early stages, using her digital skills to support herself while slowly and steadily growing her jewellery business....

Imagine this: you've poured your heart into designing beautiful, one-of-a-kind jewellery pieces. You've set up an Instagram account, maybe even a website… but somehow, you're still not getting the attention or the sales you hoped for. Sound familiar? The truth is, having great work isn't always enough. Without a clear, compelling brand, getting lost in the crowd is easy. But don't worry, you're no...

In this week's episode, host Kim Thompson sits down with Alice from the Museum of Alternative Jewellery to explore the wonderfully imaginative world of non-traditional jewellery making. Alice shares how a childhood love of beads, Polly Pockets, and playful textures evolved into a lifelong passion for alternative jewellery as self-expression and even a personal 'safety blanket'. From shrink plastic...

In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy podcast, Elin Horgan is joined by creative director Naomi Lake for a deep dive into how to create scroll- stopping images that  actually sell  your jewellery. Whether you're DIY-ing your product shots or planning your first styled shoot, this conversation is packed with practical tips and creative inspiration. Naomi shares her expert insight on every...

In this inspiring episode, Jess and Anna talk all things ambition, fear, and taking bold steps toward your creative future. Together, they dive into the transformative potential of the Jewellery Diploma programs at Jewellers Academy, with enrolment closing  Friday, 13th June . Anna shares her deeply relatable story of delaying her own studies for years - and the powerful lessons she learned about...

In this inspiring episode, Jess spoke with jewellery artist and tutor Risza Lopes da Cruz, whose creative journey spans continents—from East Timor to Brighton, England. Risza shares how her love of jewellery making began with beading in Southeast Asia and evolved into a thriving business rooted in cultural heritage and personal meaning. Discover how she navigated the challenges of starting over in...

In this episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, host Anna Campbell is joined by Niloo, a Diploma in Silver Metal Clay student based in Finland. They dive into Niloo's journey from a full-time IT engineering role to discovering a deep passion for jewellery making through metal clay. Niloo shares how the creative freedom of metal clay, the structure of the diploma course, and the supportive online...

In this episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Anna Campbell sits down with diploma graduate and full-time jeweller Jessica Croft of Homebird Jewellery to reflect on her incredible 11-year journey in the world of jewellery making. Jess shares how the Jewellers Academy Diplomas reignited her creative spark, helped her build technical skills, and gave her the confidence to fully embrace her ident...

In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy podcast, Jess and jeweller Kelly Twigg dive into the often underappreciated craft of polishing and finishing jewellery. Drawing on Kelly's experience from the Diploma in Silver Jewellery, they explore the techniques, tools, and creative choices that bring a piece to life. From filing and sanding to hand polishing and finishing styles, this conversati...

In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy podcast, Jessica Rose dives into what it really takes to build a sustainable and fulfilling jewellery business - one that can eventually replace your day job. From mastering your finances and identifying bestsellers to setting realistic salary expectations, Jessica shares practical insights and strategies for making the leap into full-time entreprene...

In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, host Anna Campbell chats with jeweller and shop owner Tori Foster to talk about the real journey of opening a jewellery shop — the trials, the joys, and everything in between. Tori shares how she made the leap from maker to shop owner, revealing the ten things no one tells you about setting up and running a jewellery store. From learning tha...

In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, we're diving into all the exciting updates to our Diploma program. Join us as we explore the new projects, enhanced techniques, and fresh resources designed to take your jewellery-making skills to the next level. We share insights on the journey from beginner to skilled jeweller, with a focus on mastering polishing, finishing, advanced stone...

In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Kim Thomson talks with goldsmith and educator Iris, whose unique journey through jewellery and cultural sciences has shaped two distinct jewellery brands and a passion for teaching. Iris shares how her creatively rich upbringing and formal training led her to a multifaceted career, balancing bespoke design with a commercial line, all while r...

In this special episode, Jessica Rose shares the exciting news about the opening of our brand-new sister school, Jewellers Academy Brighton. Located on the stunning south coast of England, this state-of-the-art jewellery training centre is now open for in-person workshops seven days a week. Whether you're based in the UK or abroad, this could be your opportunity to take your jewellery skills to th...

In this episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, jeweller and tutor April Dace dives into the art and precision behind her Tiara Wedding Ring masterclass. With over a decade of experience in fine jewellery, April shares invaluable insights into bespoke design, stone setting, and how to craft bands that perfectly frame existing rings. From sketching with accuracy to selecting the right jewelry too...

If you love hearing how other jewellers found their way into the industry, this episode is for you! This week, Elin Horgan chats with Ruth and Brendan from  I Am Acrylic , a duo who never planned to be jewellers but found themselves falling in love with the craft. Trained in fine art, they stumbled into jewellery-making after experimenting with acrylic scraps and a fret saw. What started as a crea...

Pricing your jewellery correctly is one of the most important—and challenging—aspects of running a successful business. In this episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jess breaks down the 10 biggest pricing mistakes jewellers make and how to avoid them. From undercharging for your time to overlooking hidden costs, we cover the most common pitfalls that could be holding your business back. You'l...

In 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 f...

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...

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 exp...

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 list...