Story Highlight
– NAJ expands Endorsed programme with new training offerings.
– Metal Clay Academy offers silver and base-metal workshops.
– Sharman D. Neill provides two-day retail training experience.
– Courses recognized for meeting NAJ’s educational standards.
– NAJ encourages more providers to seek endorsement.
Full Story
The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) has announced the addition of two new training courses to its NAJ Endorsed programme, aimed at enhancing skills in jewellery making and retail.
The NAJ Endorsed programme highlights education providers whose training programmes align with the association’s rigorous standards. This assessment involves a thorough review of course materials, intended learning outcomes, and instructional methods.
One of the new courses, offered by the Metal Clay Academy—part of Richard Allen Jewellery—includes in-person workshops conducted in Hull and various locations across the UK. Its introductory courses are tailored to equip learners with essential skills in working with silver and base-metal clays. Participants in the one-day workshop will engage in three hands-on projects, while the two-day course expands this to four projects, utilizing silver, copper, and bronze clay.
The other addition comes from Sharman D. Neill, a family-run business that supplies diamonds and jewellery to independent retailers throughout the UK and Ireland. Their Two-Day-In-Person Training Experience is designed for current employees and aims to enhance product knowledge, bolster confidence, teach diamond grading, and apply those skills in a retail context. Attendees will also have the opportunity to observe skilled goldsmiths at work in areas such as setting, polishing, and resizing jewellery.
These courses complement the NAJ Endorsed programme’s existing array of training offerings, which include training in business management, sales techniques, leadership, watch authentication and valuation, alongside various jewellery manufacturing skills.
Richard Allen from the Metal Clay Academy expressed pride in being the first metal clay course to receive NAJ Endorsed status, stating, “To be the first metal clay course to have achieved NAJ Endorsed status makes all the hard work worthwhile. It has always been a challenge convincing traditional jewellery makers that metal clay has a place in the industry, and we are really excited about taking it to another level.”
Peter Chamberlaine of Sharman D. Neill added, “Having our training independently endorsed by the NAJ is a fantastic recognition of the work we have put into creating a structured, inclusive and professional programme for our customers’ sales teams. It gives retailers confidence that the training is independently recognised and built to a genuine industry standard, rather than simply being informal in-house training. We’re very grateful to the NAJ for their support, and for helping us continue to raise the standard of training we provide.”
Marie Garnett, who heads education at the NAJ, encouraged more educators and specialists in the industry to consider the endorsement programme. “We would encourage more training providers, educators and industry specialists to explore the programme. There is outstanding education being delivered across our sector, and NAJ Endorsed provides a trusted platform to shine a spotlight on that work, helping ensure training remains high-quality, accessible and relevant to the evolving needs of the trade,” she stated.
