On Friday 28th March, we had the pleasure of welcoming a group of Year 9 students from Bishop Challoner School for a workplace experience day, our second collaboration with the school and one we were genuinely excited to host again.

More Than Just a Jewellery Shop

The visit began with a warm welcome from Mitch, our owner, who shared her personal (and very non-linear!) career journey from Mechanical Engineering and serving in the Royal Engineers, to roles in investment banking, construction project management and finally, finding her version of success running Petra Jewellery.

Her message was simple but powerful: careers aren’t always straightforward and that’s okay.

What matters is discovering what brings you joy, and aligning your career with your values, strengths and lifestyle.

The students were encouraged to think about:

The skills needed in different roles
The kind of work environment they might thrive in
How things like commuting, team culture, and company size play a big part in job satisfaction
And how success looks different to everyone

Inside the Workshop: A Story of Skill and Resilience

Next, the students moved into our on-site workshop, where our goldsmith Behzad shared his inspiring journey from Iran to the UK. He spoke about building a business from scratch, using both his hands and his head—often working multiple jobs just to afford the materials he needed to keep his jewellery-making skills sharp.

He gave a live demo of melting down silver, explaining the process step by step. It was a chance to witness true craftsmanship in action—and to learn how the skills required to be a master artisan differ entirely from those needed to run a business.

From Design to Delivery: Inside Our Office & Sales Floor

The students then joined Rosie, our assistant manager, in the main office to learn about jewellery design and cost management. They even had the opportunity to sketch their own designs—seeing how creativity meets commercial awareness when bringing a product to life.

We wrapped up with a brilliant mini masterclass on sales and customer relationship management from our manager Jo. She shared how we build trust with our customers and create meaningful, long-term relationships that go far beyond simple transactions.

A Business in a Box

As a small independent company, Petra offers a unique view of what we like to call a “business in a box.” The students got to see every layer—from sales, marketing and customer service, through to product design, manufacturing, finance and operations. In just two hours, they were able to get a full-circle view of how a business really runs.

Planting the Seeds of Possibility

It was a thought-provoking and inspiring tour for everyone involved. We hope it gave the students plenty to think about, sparked new ideas about where their own strengths might lie, and offered a practical starting point for future career discussions and planning.

A huge thank you to Bishop Challoner for partnering with us again: we love sharing the sparkle with the next generation.