A proud evening at the Professional Jeweller Awards 2026

There are some evenings in the jewellery trade that remind you why being part of this industry is so important. The Professional Jeweller Awards 2026 was certainly one of them.

Held at Pillar Hall at Olympia London on 2 September, the awards brought together more than 210 people from across the UK jewellery industry. It was a great opportunity to step away from the day-to-day business, meet people from across the trade and, most importantly, celebrate the people and businesses that make our industry what it is.

I was particularly pleased to be asked to present the Rising Star of the Year award. It was a real privilege to be involved in recognising someone who represents the future of our industry.

This year's award went to Anna Bavington from Houlden Jewellers, following a strong shortlist of talented individuals from across the trade. Congratulations to Anna – a very deserving winner.

For me, being involved in an evening like this is about much more than presenting an award. The jewellery industry is built around people. It is a relatively close-knit trade, and the relationships we build with colleagues, customers, manufacturers, designers, retailers, suppliers and the next generation of talent really matter.

The Professional Jeweller Awards are a great example of this. There were 21 categories recognising achievements across retail, design, manufacturing, responsible business, community initiatives and more. It was fantastic to see so many different parts of our industry represented.

I also really enjoyed the opportunity to meet people away from the usual trade environment. Events such as this provide the chance to have proper conversations, strengthen existing relationships and make new ones. Those relationships are incredibly valuable and are a big part of what makes the jewellery trade such a special industry to work in.

Being part of the jewellery industry is something I am proud of. It is an industry with a long history, but it is also constantly changing, with new talent, new technology and new ideas coming through all the time.

Congratulations again to Anna, all the winners and finalists, and to everyone involved in putting together such a great evening.

It was a privilege to be there – and an even greater privilege to play a small part in celebrating the people who are helping shape the future of our industry.