Education & Training
Protect your business and customers with official UK hallmarking services. Legal compliance, quality assurance, and customer confidence – all backed by 300+ years of heritage.
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Insurance Approved,
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HMRC Accepted
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HMRC Accepted
Trusted Guidance & Expert Training
Birmingham Assay Office Academy was established in 2015 to provide accessible, high-quality training delivered both in person and online.
Our courses include self-paced video lessons, live online sessions, and in-person training at Birmingham Assay Office. Delivered by a combination of in-house specialists and industry experts, our programmes are designed to support both newcomers to the industry and established professionals seeking to expand their knowledge.
We are committed to building confidence and competence among professionals working with jewellery, precious metals, and gemstones. Through accessible, high-quality education, our aim is to inspire continuous learning and help elevate standards across the industry.
Self-Led e-Learning
At Birmingham Assay Office, we provide flexible online training covering both precious metals and gemstones. Our self-led e-Learning courses are designed to fit around your schedule, allowing you to develop your knowledge at your own pace.
Delivered through our online learning platform, each course is structured into concise, focused modules that can be completed in convenient increments, whether you are learning at home, in the workplace, or on the move.
In-Person Sessions
We welcome learners to Birmingham Assay Office for two in-person, one-day courses: Understanding Diamonds and A Practical Introduction to Jewellery Valuations. While both courses are led by industry experts, they are designed as accessible introductions for those starting a career in jewellery or looking to build their confidence and knowledge.
Understanding Diamonds
This course is ideal for anyone who wants to develop a clearer understanding of diamonds and how they are graded. It is particularly valuable for those working in jewellery retail, as well as hobbyist jewellers and small business owners who work with diamonds.
The session covers the 4 Cs, diamond treatments, simulants and laboratory-grown diamonds, how to observe and assess diamonds in a retail environment, and the key selling points of diamonds.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to handle examples of common diamond features and become familiar with typical gemmological equipment.
A Practical Introduction to Jewellery Valuations
This course is suitable for beginners and those wishing to strengthen their knowledge of jewellery assessment.
The session covers the use of hand tools, assessing mounted diamonds and jewellery construction, writing accurate jewellery descriptions, recognising common settings and chain types, identifying historic hallmarks, and understanding jewellery styles from the Victorian era to the present day.
UK Hallmarking Explained
In 2026, we began offering our popular UK Hallmarking Explained online video conferences free of charge. Led by our Commercial Manager, Marie Brennan, the session explains the Hallmarking Act 1973 and helps attendees understand their responsibilities as makers or traders of precious metal items.
The session covers the history of hallmarking, current UK hallmarking regulations, the development of the UK Assay Offices, the importance of the International Hallmarking Convention, and trends within the UK jewellery market.
Follow our social media channels for announcements about upcoming sessions and the release of free tickets.
Bespoke Training
Are you looking to support your employees in the jewellery or consumer goods industry with expert-led training? Birmingham Assay Office can work with you to develop bespoke training packages that draw on the expertise of our specialised departments.
Whether you want to strengthen your team’s understanding of compliance across precious metals or chemicals, or build their confidence when advising customers on retail choices, we can tailor training to meet your needs.
Contact us to learn more about the wide range of subjects our experts can deliver.
Our History: Discovery Days
Join us behind the scenes at Birmingham Assay Office and see hallmarking in action. Our Discovery Days begin with an in-depth talk exploring the history of hallmarking and the story of Birmingham Assay Office since its founding in 1773.
Attendees will then visit our Silver Collection, featuring historic objects created by some of Birmingham’s most celebrated silversmiths. The experience concludes with a tour of our operational floor, where you can see how our team hallmarks precious metal items today.