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Strange times

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COVID-19 effects on suppliers & makers

 

Image: Meng He  Hidden Natural Beauty, shown in  Connections | Connessioni

 

 

 

ACJ staff are working remotely, as usual. We hope you are all safe & as well as possible.

Since the lockdown is now easing (second week of June), we will not be updating this information further. Many non-essential businesses are allowed to open on 15th June, and the major suppliers and all four Assay Offices are back to almost-normal service.

However, here is the last version of information, updated late May:

 

 

 

 

 

Financial helpFor the self employed and people in business partnerships, HMRC offer grants, and you can now check if you are eligible. Note you MUST have a Gateway account to claim help; after you create an account, the activation code is confirmed BY POST, so if you normally file your accounts on paper, sort out a Gateway account now. Details on registering here. Further details of the Self Employment Income Support Scheme here

If you're not eligible for this scheme, look at the Bounce Back Loans: interest free for one year, 2.5% interest after that.

The Goldsmiths' Covid-19 Fund is now closed. We will let you know if there is any further chance to apply. The Goldsmiths' Company announced a £1million fund to help jewellers, silversmiths and people working in the trade. On 5 May the last round of applications was closed. Full details for the scheme here

Hallmarking: all Assay Offices are now open, service is not as fast as normal

For more details, see the individualnews pages:

Assay Office London        Edinburgh Assay Office        Birmingham Assay Office       Sheffield Assay Office

Current supplier news: most have resumed service, with some delays in delivery times  

Cooksongold has now reopened (from 27 April) for orders via their website & Contact Centre and are currently offering free delivery on orders over £25. Their stores in Birmingham & London remain closed for the time being. Updates on service here.

Jon Black of Black Arts Castings has bought some sheet, wire and other supplies from Cooksongold, and is selling these at Cooksongold prices. See the site staffsjewellery.com

Burhouse are dispatching daily (findings, beads etc).https://www.burhousebeads.com/blog/current-situation-regarding-coronavirus

HS Walsh are dispatching from their Biggin Hill Head Office Monday to Friday. The trade counters in Hatton Garden and Hockley are closed. Free shipping on web orders over £50. Phone orders: 01959 543660   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  https://www.hswalsh.com/

Betts Metals have limited capability to process orders and delivery times are likely to be 2-3 days longer than usual. Check back for updates here: https://www.bettsmetalsales.com/ 
 
Bellore Rashbel is closed to visitors to the store but is taking orders online. Phone lines are no longer being manned so all enquiries should be made via email. Customers should allow at least 14 days for orders to be processed and then shipped. https://www.rashbel.co.uk/  
 
Both Goldsmiths' Hall and the Goldsmiths' Centre are closed, including all workshops of the Centre's tenants:

https://www.goldsmiths-centre.org/about-us/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-update/

 

ACJ exhibitions:

The glasshouses call for entries is open, more news here, so do start planning and making your entries! Closing date 17 July.

Unfortunately we have closed the Connections | Connessioni exhibition at The Lighthouse in Glasgow, but we are still hoping to take the exhibition to Italy later this year. Again, we'll update you when dates become clear.

Many of our members have benches and tools at home, but we know that many others do not and cannot be making during the seclusions. We hope you can develop some good designs! The Board are working on some ideas and challenges for you.

See your e-bulletins, ACJ Facebook page and other ACJ social media for the challenges and other news.    You can see responses here: what people have been making for the challenges.