The Jewellery & Allied Industries Training Council

JAITC was formed in 1998 to represent jewellery manufacturers, silversmiths, pewterers and cutlers, and in particular to serve the education and training needs of the industry. Its sponsors are the British Jewellers' Association, the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, the Gemmological Assocation and the Birmingham Assay Office.

Training Courses for Jewellers and Silversmiths

From the menu on the right you will be able to find universities, further education colleges and private training schools who all offer a wide range of training courses, from degree level to specific skills based short courses of one or two days.  Please contact the providers direct for more information.

Occupational Qualifications for Jewellery and Silversmithing

JAITC originally developed NVQ's at levels 1 and 2 in the Manufacture of Jewellery and Related Products, and level 3 in the Manufacture of Specialist Jewellery and Related Products. These qualifications are, however under review and have not available to new applicants since City and Guilds relinquished thier role as our Awarding Body.  The Scottish Qualifications Authority has been approved as an awarding body for Jewellery and Silversmithing in England and Wales and we hope that in due course they will be able to offer these qualifications based on the existing Scottish Vocational Qualifications and the National Occupational Standards for Jewellery and Silversmithing which are published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in London.

Funding for Jewellery and Silversmithing Training

In England and Wales, mainstream funding for Work based learning programmes depends largely on there being a government approved Apprenticeship Framework, adopted and published by a Sector Skills Council.  The Sector Skills Development Agency has recently allowed SEMTA to relinquish its role as our Sector Skills Council and jewellery and silversmithing is now in scope to Creative & Cultural Skills, the Sector Skills Council for advertising, crafts, cultural heritage, design, music, performing, literary and visual arts. There have been no discussions as yet with C&CS about an apprenticeship framework for jewellery and silversmithing.

If you wish to take on a trainee then you will not be able to claim any government funding for training or wage costs unless there are local programmes funded by the Learning and Skills Council or by other agencies using European or regional funding schemes.  Contact your local Learning and Skills Council to find out if there are any such schemes in your area.