The Goldsmiths’ Company announced the launch of their COVID-19 Fund this week. The Fund aims to help those in the jewellery trade who are in financial difficulty due to the coronavirus. It could be a lifeline to many struggling jewellery businesses in the current crisis, as the Government’s CBILS prove difficult to attain. At present, just 21% of businesses that have applied for these loans have been accepted so far.
Launching at the end of the month, you will be able to apply online for either a grant or loan from The Goldsmiths’ Company if you are a member of the jewellery, silversmith and allied industries. You must also be self-employed, a sole trader, or running a business of five people or fewer.
A formal announcement is set to follow when applications open in the coming weeks and we will be updating this page with information on what support you may be entitled to and how to apply as soon as this is formalised. This is what we know so far.
Why has Goldsmiths’ launched a COVID-19 Fund?
The Goldsmiths’ Company is a trade guild that has existed for centuries, acting as a safety net to support craftspeople and their communities in the UK's precious metal industries. Their earliest minute book dates to 1334, far predating the Welfare State, and mentions the importance of alms (financial support) in their role as a trade guild.
Timothy Schroder, Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company, said:
‘Since our very beginning, we have performed roles that reach deep into our trade, and today, in an unprecedented moment in time for all of us, we are working hard to protect people who are facing hardship.’
You can read his full statement
here.
How do I find out more?
The best place to find direct information is by subscribing to The Goldsmiths' Company's online channels or signing up to their newsletter on
their website.
They have promised that further details will be available in the next two weeks and ask that you do not get in touch with the team directly yet. We will of course be updating you here as and when the details are made available.