Jacobs the Jewellers Emerging Designer Competition: Announces the winner of 2023.

As part of a successful collaboration with the Bishopsland Educational Trust, The Goldsmiths Centre and approved CMJ supplier HS Walsh, Jacobs the Jewellers, Reading’s oldest independent jewellery retailer, announces the winner of their Emerging Designer’s competition. The results were as follows:

Bishopsland Educational Trust, a post-graduate residential programme for silversmithing and jewellery skills, had its designers take part in the competition presented in-store and via Jacobs the Jewellers website during late July and early August. Each participant showcased an item of silver as well as a piece of jewellery.  Over the voting period, visitors to Jacobs’ website or shop voted for their favourite jewellery design as well as their preferred silver object. The Mayor of Reading also visited mid-way through the competition, chatting with representatives of Bishopsland Educational Trust, and casting his vote. Over 1200 votes were cast this year, both in person and online.

The established competition offers excellent benefits to the participating designers. As an endpoint towards their stay at Bishopsland Educational Trust, the competition entrants work for many months creating their designs. It gives them an opportunity to make their designs to deadlines, displaying them in a public-facing environment, in preparation for their move into hopefully enjoyable and rewarding careers within the industry.

The winners each received £250 of HS Walsh vouchers, the runners up £150 vouchers each, to spend on tools or materials to help establish their careers in the jewellery and silver industry, plus a framed presentation certificate. Chris Oliver from the Goldsmiths Centre and HS Walsh’s Leo Hadgi-Petrou joined Adam Jacobs and Bishopsland Educational Trust Principal Angela Cork in Jacobs the Jewellers Reading shop to present the awards.

CMJ retailer, Adam Jacobs partner of Jacobs the Jewellers shared: “Each year the competition goes from strength to strength. Our clients love seeing the amazing work on display and genuinely marvel at the skill in the craft. Thanks to all the gang for their hard work and we wish all the year group ‘good luck’ as they set off in their jewellery and silver careers.”

The annual competition has been made possible for the Bishopsland Educational Trust through the initiative, cooperation and support of Jacobs the Jewellers, the Goldsmiths Centre and HS Walsh.