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On Thursday the 9th of November BAJ Birmingham welcomed recent graduates, guests, staff and esteemed industry connections to the 2023 Final Show.

The memorable evening brought together the local community to celebrate the hard work of BAJ Birmingham’s learners. Set inside The Birmingham Assay Office, under the famous Guardian Timepiece, guests could view over 75 pieces of jewellery from created by two cohorts of BAJ learners over the past year.

Before the awards were bestowed, Gary Wroe, the Managing Director of Hockley Mint, delivered a compelling keynote speech about his remarkable journey of personal and professional growth. This inspiring story served as a testament to the diverse paths one can take in the jewellery industry, highlighting the importance of talent and dedication in keeping the industry vibrant and innovative.

Awards Ceremony:

• The Andra Jewels Mandala Design Award, presented by Sterling Whorrie to Erica Combe. Prize of hallmarking registration or Cooksongold vouchers.
• The Andra Jewels Award for Technical Excellence went to Holly Ryan. Prize of Hallmarking registration or Cooksongold vouchers
• The Cooksongold Award for Creative Excellence went to Janine Fox. Prize of Cooksongold vouchers.
• The Payne & Son Rising Star Award went to Louise Harrington. Prize of HS Walsh vouchers.
• The Hockley Mint Pret-a-porter Award went to Emily Buckler Kim for her collection. Prize of a week’s work placement with Hockley Mint.
• BAJ Apprentice of the Year went to Holly Ryan. Prize of Cooksongold vouchers.
• The BAJ Learner of The Year Award for PB1 went to Beth Chesser. Prize of Cooksongold vouchers.
• The BAJ Learner of The Year Award for PB2 went to Louise Harrington. Prize of Cooksongold vouchers.

Lily Henderson, (Jewellery Diploma Coordinator) said: “The Birmingham final show dazzled with the exceptional craftsmanship displayed by our Level 3 diploma learners.
It was truly heartwarming to witness the significance the event and awards held for each learner, reflecting their commitment and achievements. The unwavering support of the industry added an additional layer of importance to this event. Congratulations to the tutors in Birmingham, whose dedication has undoubtedly contributed to shaping a wonderful learning environment and extracting the utmost potential from our learners.

Naomi Wilson (Learner Services & Recruitment Lead) said: “To finally see the learners’ work up on display for this year’s final show was a delight! Both groups of students worked exceptionally hard, and this was evident in the pieces they produced. Watching them all progress over the months during their studies, improving in technical skills and then seeing how much they desired to push themselves creatively was very rewarding.”

Collette Waudby (PB2 Lead Tutor) said said: “Firsts that gave me a thirst for more – my first diploma group, their first exhibition and first time being part of the truly brilliant Birmingham team! I’m so proud of all the learners’ and apprentices’ achievements, they made me feel deeply appreciated and a tad emotional! The celebratory atmosphere and camaraderie were perfectly punctuated with generous awards and accolades from the jewellery and retail industry making it extra rewarding. Bravo – bring on next year!”

Miranda Sharpe (PB1 Lead Tutor) said: “The BAJ Birmingham final show is a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the hard work of our cohorts in the preceding year, and celebrate their achievements through showcasing their final projects. Our cohorts this year produced some fantastic pieces and they should all be immensely proud of what they have achieved. The support of our industry sponsors adds to the event, welcoming our learners into the industry and having the opportunity to receive a special accolade.”

The BAJ Birmingham Final Show not only celebrated the culmination of the learners’ hard work but also served as a testament to the excellence of the next generation of jewellers, silversmiths, designers and manufacturers. Do you want to be a part of this next generation of creators? BAJ is now accepting applications for September 2024 entry – click here to find more information on the
course offerings.

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