College Students Discover Creative & Commercial Insights
Last Friday, 29th November, Petra Jewellery hosted an inspiring visit for ten A-Level art students from Queen Mary’s College as part of their Industry Week. The students, specialising in disciplines such as fine art, graphic design, textiles, and photography, joined us for a tailored Creative & Commercial Inspiration Program, designed to ignite their creativity and broaden their understanding of how to transform artistic talents into successful careers.
The morning kicked off with a warm welcome in our Creative Suite, where Mitch shared the heart of Petra Jewellery’s story and the journey that has shaped us into Hampshire’s most trusted jewellers. This introduction set the tone for an engaging and interactive day of learning, exploration, and creativity.
The program wasn’t just about listening; it was about doing. Students engaged in discussions like designing for personal expression versus creating for clients, led by Mitch, where they shared their ideas and explored the challenges of balancing creativity with audience expectations.
Abi brought colour to life, discussing its role in design and offering a hands-on look at gemstones and how design conversations translate into finished pieces. She also gave a practical session on how social media is used to market creative businesses and we had a look at each of the student’s own online portfolios.
A mid-morning break allowed for informal chats and questions, fostering a comfortable environment for curiosity and connection. Rosie then guided the students through the practicalities of costs, timescales, and supplier management, emphasising the balance between creativity and commerciality. Jo followed with a concise yet insightful discussion on sales and customer relations, giving the students a glimpse of the skills needed to run a business successfully.
The highlight of the program was undoubtedly the workshop session, where students observed our Master Goldsmith in action.
They explored the intricacies of communicating a design brief, the artistry of crafting bespoke pieces, and the risk management involved in fine jewellery creation. Seeing theory in action was a fascinating moment for many students, sparking ideas and igniting their imaginations.
Here’s what Tamsin, one of their teachers, had to say:
“I just wanted to say a huge thank you for giving our students such an enriching experience with you on Friday. You and your amazing team went above and beyond to make our students feel relaxed and welcome, and the time taken to prepare such an engaging morning was truly appreciated by our students. You have definitely inspired them, thank you so much 🙂”
As the day wrapped up, I invited the students to contact us for future work experiences tailored to their individual interests. We’re thrilled that this has already resulted in one student being invited back to spend a day shadowing our goldsmith and another who will be trying their hand at live social media content creation in our front-of-house environment. These opportunities allow us to further nurture their unique talents and offer even more practical, hands-on learning.
