Engaged with the production of fine and detailed items that are made from precious metals and adorned with precious stones and other materials.
Working in one of the nine specialist functions within jewellery and silversmithing, apprentices develop the manual and technical skills needed to produce fine items from precious metals and stones. Depending on their route, responsibilities include forming, fabricating, setting, polishing, or engraving pieces to professional standards. Alongside practical craft skills, apprentices learn to interpret technical drawings, select appropriate materials, use specialist tools correctly, and maintain quality throughout the production process.
Daily work is largely bench-based, using hand tools and specialist equipment to shape, join, finish, or decorate metal and stone. Apprentices will follow job specifications and technical drawings, prepare materials, carry out their assigned process (such as stone setting, soldering, or polishing), inspect finished work against quality standards, and keep their workspace and tools in good order. They may work alongside experienced craftspeople on pieces destined for retail, bespoke commissions, or silverware production.
Completing this apprenticeship opens routes into skilled bench roles across jewellery manufacturing, bespoke commissions, silversmithing, and retail jewellery repair. Common job titles include bench jeweller, silversmith, stone setter, polisher, and engraver. With experience, progression into senior craft roles, workshop supervision, or specialist freelance work is realistic. Employers range from small independent workshops and designer-makers to larger manufacturing businesses concentrated in the UK's historic jewellery quarters, particularly Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter and Hatton Garden in London. The sector also includes heritage silversmiths and luxury brands producing for domestic and export markets.
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Completers typically move into bench jeweller, silversmith, or allied trades specialist roles within a manufacturing or workshop setting. Depending on which of the nine occupational functions they trained in, titles might include stone setter, polisher and finisher, engraver, chain maker, or model maker. Some join small independent workshops or designer-maker studios, while others take production roles in larger manufacturing businesses, including those supplying the retail jewellery and luxury goods sectors.
With three to five years of post-qualification experience, many progress to senior bench jeweller or specialist craftsperson, taking on more complex commissions and quality-checking responsibilities. Some move into workshop supervisor or production manager roles. The deep-specialist track leads towards master craftsperson status in areas such as engraving, stone setting, or silversmithing, with some individuals establishing their own studios or taking on apprentice supervision. Formal design qualifications can open routes into jewellery design or product development roles.
The UK jewellery and silversmithing sector is concentrated in areas including Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, London's Hatton Garden, and Sheffield, though workshops operate across the country. Employers range from small independent workshops and designer-maker studios to mid-sized manufacturers supplying retail chains and luxury brands. The sector also includes silversmiths producing ceremonial and corporate pieces, repair and restoration specialists, and businesses serving the wedding and bespoke jewellery market. Both private and heritage-focused organisations hire from this pathway.
Learning takes place on the job, with the apprentice developing craft knowledge and practical skills in a real workplace setting over an extended period. Before moving to final assessment, there is a readiness check, commonly referred to as the gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has reached the required standard. Final assessment then establishes whether the apprentice can demonstrate competence across the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for the occupation. Assessment arrangements for many standards are currently being reviewed, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
Apprentices should build a portfolio of real workplace evidence throughout their time on the programme rather than leaving it to the final stages. Given the precision and craft nature of the work, this means keeping records of pieces made, techniques applied, and problems worked through on the job. Close communication with both employer and training provider about readiness for the gateway is essential. Consistent record-keeping from the start makes the final assessment process significantly more straightforward.
Look for providers with direct connections to the jewellery and silversmith trade, ideally through workshops, guild relationships, or employer partnerships with manufacturers and independent ateliers. Achievement rates above 65% matter here, but given the small cohort sizes typical for this standard, satisfaction scores and learner reviews carry particular weight. Providers should be able to demonstrate access to proper bench facilities, tools, and materials appropriate to working with precious metals. Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter and London's Hatton Garden are natural hubs, so regional coverage and proximity to trade clusters is worth checking on the FATP profile.
Be cautious of providers who cannot clearly describe which of the nine manufacturing functions they cover and how deeply. Low achievement rates combined with small cohort sizes can signal weak employer engagement or poor pastoral support, not just statistical noise. If a provider cannot point to alumni working in recognisable trade roles, or struggles to explain how apprentices gain supervised bench time with real commissions or live client work, that is a serious concern. Generic design or craft training repackaged loosely around this standard should put you off.
There are no mandatory prior qualifications set at entry level, though employers typically look for some interest or background in art, design, or practical making. Apprentices must be employed in a relevant role throughout. Some employers set their own selection criteria, such as a portfolio or practical task, particularly for roles requiring fine motor skills. If you are unsure whether a candidate meets your requirements, speak to a training provider listed on this page.
The typical duration is 36 months, though the actual time depends on the apprentice's prior experience and how quickly they achieve competence. Learning happens alongside employment, so apprentices are in the workplace from day one, practising craft skills on real work. Off-the-job training is built into the programme. Current government reforms may affect minimum duration and off-the-job requirements, so check the latest specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education pages on gov.uk.
Before the end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has met the required standard. Assessment models for many apprenticeship standards are currently being reviewed under Skills England reforms, so the exact assessment components may change. Check the current assessment plan on gov.uk for up-to-date details. In all cases, the apprentice must demonstrate genuine occupational competence across the relevant craft functions.
The funding band for this standard is £16,000, which is the maximum that can be drawn from the apprenticeship funding system. Large employers with an apprenticeship levy account use levy funds to cover training costs. SMEs that do not pay the levy typically contribute 5% of the training cost, with the government paying the remaining 95%. Employers with fewer than 50 staff who take on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing. Contact a provider on this page to confirm current funding arrangements.
Day-to-day work depends on the specific function within the sector, which covers areas such as hand-making, stone setting, engraving, polishing, model making, or quality control. An apprentice might spend time forming and finishing a piece in precious metal, setting stones under close instruction, operating specialist tools, or preparing items for quality inspection. They work to tight tolerances and learn to maintain the standards expected of British-made fine jewellery and silverware.
Completing this apprenticeship opens routes into skilled craft roles across jewellery manufacturing, silversmithing, bespoke making, and related trades. Some progress into senior making or supervisory roles within established workshops or heritage brands. Others move into self-employment or specialist areas such as hand engraving or bespoke design. A level 3 qualification can also support entry onto higher technical or design programmes if the individual wants to broaden into product design or gemology.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 605.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.