Supporting designer makers with business and creative breakthroughs.

This project aims to support established contemporary jewellery designers in London to:

• develop new products
• work with British jewellery manufacturers to develop an understanding of the manufacturing process
• identify new routes to market and develop new relationships with jewellery retailers

This two-year action research project links 12 established contemporary jewellery designers based in London with manufacturers, product developers and branding and marketing professionals to provide an integrated approach to product development, business growth and commercial sustainability. The project aims to support this core group of jewellers through a process of skills audit, business review, business planning, product development, manufacturing, showcasing and selling.

This project has been developed and designed to address some of the key issues that established jewellers face in achieving a breakthrough in their business growth.

Delivering this project with Holts Academy is Palmer Hamilton Partnership.

We have brought together a dynamic and exciting group of advisers, industry specialists (product development, manufacturing, marketing, media and retail) and contemporary jewellery designers to work together to create new relationships and knowledge exchange. We hope this will promote new ways of working with manufacturers, retailers and industry specialists and build professional confidence through greater understanding of new processes, product development and branding in the marketplace.

Sarah Herriot's - Fine Twist Egg Ring - one of the Future in the Making Project Group

Project Outcomes:

This project is still underway. The expected outcomes include:

• the development of individual pathways to address each of the participants business needs
• the development of a new body of work to be showcased at the end of the programme
• supporting participants to develop new relationships with manufacturers and product developers to encourage them to develop new products and routes to market
• each participant on the programme will develop a new five year business plan and marketing strategy