PRESS RELEASE: Touchstone Award Training Day Celebrates Excellence in Hallmarking Enforcement

With the rise of online marketplaces, fast-moving imports, and increasingly sophisticated illegal traders, effective hallmarking enforcement has never been more vital. The Award shines a light on teams whose work preserves confidence in precious-metal goods and ensures that consumers can trust the hallmark - one of the UK’s oldest and most enduring forms of consumer protection.

A day of learning, recognition and collaboration

During the day, attendees heard directly from the winning enforcement team - London Trading Standards - about the ‘Stamping It Out’ project: an operation that has already removed more than £250,000 worth of non-compliant and illegal items from the London market. Members of the London Assay Office joined the BHC to share best practice, discuss enforcement challenges, and strengthen collaboration between regulators and frontline Trading Standards officers.

Guests were then hosted by the London Assay Office for a practical, behind-the-scenes tour, demonstrating how hallmarking testing and verification operate in real time. This hands-on session allowed winners to deepen their technical knowledge and connect their enforcement work directly to the centuries-old processes that protect consumers and the trade.

The Touchstone Award was established by the British Hallmarking Council to encourage strong, visible enforcement of the Hallmarking Act across the UK. It recognises intelligence-led operations, collaborative working, and initiatives that raise the profile of hallmarking among retailers and consumers. Hallmarking is one of the UK’s oldest forms of consumer protection - dating back over 700 years - ensuring that precious metal items are honestly described and meet the legal standards for fineness.

Simon Topman, Chair, British Hallmarking Council said:

“The British Hallmarking Council is honoured to celebrate success from within Trading Standards by making this annual award. Enforcement of the Hallmarking Act is essential to protect consumers and legitimate business. This year’s winners delivered a fantastic team effort and we look forward to this work being rolled out to other parts of the country.” “

Stuart Radnedge, Regional Coordinator: London Trading Standards said:
“We are extremely proud to have achieved such outstanding results from our operations across London. Our participating members took part because protecting consumers and legitimate businesses is a major priority for Trading Standards. Thanks must go to the British Hallmarking Council, the London Assay Office, the sponsors and organisers of the Touchstone Award for this prestigious annual event, which supports Trading Standards in enforcing hallmarking compliance at retail level and promotes the trust that people feel when they see the Hallmarking signs on jewellery".

Will Evans, Director, London Assay Office said:
“For more than 700 years, the London Assay Office has protected consumers and the trade by ensuring the quality of precious metals. We are incredibly proud to support Operation Stamping It Out, and thrilled that the collaboration between WRi Group and London Trading Standards — which has seen more than £250,000 of illegal items removed from the streets so far — has been recognised with the 2025 Touchstone Award. The dedication and professionalism shown by the teams from the London boroughs involved demonstrates how much can be achieved when we work together towards a common goal.”

About the Touchstone Award
The Touchstone Award was established by the British Hallmarking Council to encourage strong, visible enforcement of the Hallmarking Act across the UK. It recognises intelligence-led operations, collaborative working, and initiatives that raise the profile of hallmarking among retailers and consumers. Hallmarking is one of the UK’s oldest forms of consumer protection - dating back over 700 years - ensuring that precious metal items are honestly described and meet the legal standards for fineness.