Jewellery designer : Employers and vacancy sources

Most jewellery designers are either self-employed, establishing their own workshop or studio, or freelance, working with individual makers or fashion/jewellery designers. They build up their own business through getting themselves and their work known. They can sell their designs to manufacturing companies or design and make their own jewellery for sale through craft shops and galleries. Self-employed jewellery designers can also work on individual commissions.

It is also possible to gain employment in larger design companies. Typical employers include factories and workshops that manufacture jewellery. Companies are often small to medium-sized businesses employing up to 20 people. An index of jewellery designers, silversmiths and makers, and an index of galleries and retailers, are available from Who's Who in Gold and Silver - The Goldsmith's Company Directory .

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Benchpeg  
• Retail Jeweller  
• Jeweller Magazine Online Recruitment  
• The Hockley Flyer  - vacancies in the Birmingham area.
• a-n: The Artists Information Company  
• Local and national press.

Vacancies are rarely advertised and speculative applications can be effective. The following directories are useful for identifying contacts:

• Who's Who in Gold and Silver - The Goldsmith's Company Directory  
• Retail Jeweller Buyer's Guide 

The following organisations can also be useful for identifying contacts:

• British Jewellers' Association (BJA)  
• Institute of Professional Goldsmiths  
• The Goldsmiths' Company  
• The Association for Contemporary Jewellery  

Recruitment agencies rarely handle vacancies.

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