301: Celebrating One Year of Jewellers Academy Brighton: 2,000 Students, 700 Classes, and a Growing Community

This week marks a very special milestone as we celebrate one year of Jewellers Academy Brighton. In this episode, Jessica is joined by School Manager Lisa Hagen and tutors Ellinor Sixtensdotter and Mahroz Hekmati to reflect on what it's been like to build a jewellery school from the ground up and welcome a thriving in-person community. Over the past year, more than 2,000 students from across the UK and around the world have joined classes in Brighton, learning everything from their very first silver ring to advanced stone setting, enamelling, and fine jewellery techniques. Together, the team shares their favourite moments, the transformations they've witnessed in students' confidence and skills, and the unique energy that comes from learning jewellery in a shared studio space. You'll hear about the most popular classes, the experience of mentoring diploma students in person, and how teaching can deepen your own skills as a jeweller. They also discuss the importance of creating a welcoming, supportive environment where complete beginners and experienced makers alike can grow creatively and technically. In this episode, we cover: • Building a jewellery school and community from scratch • Supporting beginners through their first jewellery projects • Mentoring students through Diploma programmes • Teaching advanced techniques including stone setting and enamelling • How in-person learning complements online jewellery education • The power of creative community in developing confidence and skills Find out more about Jewellers Academy Brighton and upcoming classes at:   Learn more about classes and Jewellers Academy Brighton: https://www.jewellersacademybrighton.com/