The Benevolent Society and the NAJ Educational Trust Silver Design Competition

This year the Benevolent Society celebrates its 100th Anniversary, and the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) Educational Trust is celebrating its 30th anniversary. To commemorate this event, a silver design competition was launched on 22nd July 2024.

The design brief

There are two strands to this competition. Entrants may choose either to design a silver water jug or to design and manufacture a silver water jug. The closing date for the design competition is the same for both strands.

Entrants may submit more than one design entry, but only one design will be selected to proceed to manufacture.

1. To design a silver water jug.

The water jug should hold 1.1 litres of water.

The design should if possible, allow for a short inscription to be engraved somewhere on the jug.

The water jug should be designed for regular use and be fit for purpose.

There are no restrictions in terms of design style. We are looking for a unique, bespoke but practical jug which will be used and enjoyed now and in the future.

Design only award - £500

Closing date November 4th 2024.

Winning design/designer to be announced at the Benevolent Society Ball on December5th 2024

2. To design and manufacture a silver water jug.

Design brief as 1- (above). The design and manufacture of the silver jug by the same individual competition entrant.

Design and manufacture award - £2,000 (this includes design) and £500 of silver.

Design - £500 paid when a winner is announced on December 5th 2024.

Closing date for designs November 4th 2024.

Winning design/designer to be announced at the Benevolent Society Ball on December 5th 2024.

In addition to the prize money, The Benevolent Society will organise and pay for the photography of the finished piece and the images will be shared with the winning entrant.

Submissions and Questions

Applicants can contact The Benevolent Society Secretary/NAJ Educational Trust Administrator for any questions on the submissions via: laura.banner@batf.com or by calling +44 (0) 121 237 1119/ +44 (0) 7827 387 200

The final submission should be sent before the closing date of November 4th 2024 to laura.banner@batf.com or posted to;-

Laura Banner

The Benevolent Society/NAJ Educational Trust

Federation House

10 Vyse Street

Birmingham

B18 6LT

Your final design submission should include:

- A drawing of your design (Render/3D CAD etc.) in whatever medium you feel best demonstrates your design)

- Proposed height/weight and capacity of the water jug.

- An educated/quantified guess of the amount of silver required to manufacture the jug.

- Your contact details

The silver water jug will be manufactured and delivered by October 1st 2025. After a formal presentation to the Chair of the BATF and related media coverage, the winning piece will be on display/in use at Federation House Birmingham.

Judging

Entries will be judged by a panel of industry specialists, including practicing silversmiths.

The entry, which in the opinion of the judging panel, has successfully best answered the brief will be selected by this panel

Background

Overview: The Benevolent Society

The Benevolent Society, charitable society of the British Allied Trades Federation financially assists individuals who have worked within the giftware, jewellery, surface engineering, travel goods and fashion accessories industries. The Society also helps individuals starting or progressing their career journeys in these industries through bursaries to help with their studies.

Founded in 1924 by the Leathergoods Association it has, during the last 100 years, incorporated several trades federations to become the charitable society of the British Allied Trades Federation (BATF).

www.thebenevolentsociety.co.uk

Overview - National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) Educational Trust

The Educational Trust was set up in 1994 and exists to provide scholarships, awards and assistance towards training and work experience opportunities for persons in the jewellery industry. These scholarships and awards are available to those who are employed or working in the jewellery industry or working within the Education Sector on programmes directly relevant to employees within the jewellery industries

Overview - The British Allied Trades Federation

The BATF is a unified federation of five of the most significant associations in the trade and consumer marketplace: The Giftware Association, the National Association of Jewellers, the Surface Engineering Association, the British Travelgoods & Accessories Association and the Jewellery Distributors Association. The BATF supports trade associations in attracting and retaining members. Today, it services more than 2,500 businesses, representing upwards of 50,000 employees and more than £25 billion at the retail level.

Equal opportunities/ EDI statement

The National Association of Jewellers and The Benevolent Society are Equal Opportunities organisations. They are committed to equal opportunities regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, medical history, skin colour, marital status, genetic information or parental status. We base all submissions to the design competition on merit, specifically using the judging criteria.

For more information:
www.naj.co.uk