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A group of jewellery firm bosses and craftspeople from the Rhone district of France are visiting Birmingham as part of a European Union-funded skills programme.

The six-day visit by the 10-strong delegation from the Lyon-based Chambres de Metiers et de l’Artisant du Rhone begins on Thursday, January 30, and will give companies from the Jewellery Quarter the chance to showcase their skills to the visitors.

The trip has been arranged under the Leonardo programme, which was part of the European Union’s Lifelong Learning Programme from 2007-2013.

It was backer of UK vocational education and training organisations that wanted to share experience with European partners to improve training, skills and employability.

It has now been replaced by Erasmus+, the new European funding programme for education, training, youth and sport.

The mission, which is being facilitated by Birmingham City Council, will take in fact-finding visits to companies in the city’s Jewellery Quarter district and meetings with key personalities from the industry.

During the trip, the delegates will visit key venues such as The Assay Office, Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, The School of Jewellery and Perry Beeches II. They will also receive tours of Toye & Co, Weston Beamor and Cooksons, visit jewellery shops including Element Bespoke Jewellery and James Newman, and enjoy a meal at The Rose Villa Tavern.

Delegates will also call in on The Spring Fair at the NEC on Sunday, which is the largest trade gifts show in the UK.

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