The PMW is an inclusive safe space for all its Makers In Residence (MIR) and offers platforms for creative individuals to thrive, building their own business. Our Inclusions programs are set up to provide the necessary facilities to allow people the opportunity to benefit from access to their own jewellers bench, workshop tools and equipment, library, creative family of makers, weekly business mentoring, work critiques, teacher assistance and training, event planning and participation as well as adjudicating on our Sustainable Practices Award (SPA) and being a part of our Facets programs.

our Inclusions programs:

1. Edinburgh Women’s Aid (EWA):

   We work closely with EWA and Shakti Women’s Aid to provide the above opportunity for one of their service users.

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“The PMW graduate programme has not only provided me with bench space, but also facilities I could only dream of as a recent graduate. It was difficult to know where to begin and be motivated when I graduated, you only realise how precious university facilities are once no longer available. The programme has been integral in starting up my own brand and moving into the jewellery industry. Other than the facilities and space, the business mentoring classes have helped me gain a deeper understanding of self-employment in the jewellery world. The classes cover anywhere from basic bookkeeping, jewellery ethics and its environmental impact to one’s mental well-being.

I look forward to utilising the space for my own creations, and cannot wait to see what it will bring me in the future!”

“The PMW has been a fantastic space for me to grow as a maker and a person. Everyone is so welcoming and helpful, it has been an amazing stepping stone from my transition from university to a jeweller in the real world. The workshop space is great and you are surrounded by people with the same passion and love for jewellery.

The business mentoring classes have been extremely beneficial to my practice. These sessions have given me a deeper understanding of everything from how to market myself and become a more ethical and conscientious maker.

I am excited to continue my time here and use the opportunity to the fullest.”

“The PMW has not just given me a workshop space to physically make my graduate collection, it has also given me the chance to be a part of a community of jewellers as well as giving me much needed time and guidance to help me decide my next steps.

My residency has given me a year after university to refine my practice and evolve my work. The weekly business mentoring sessions have given me insight into what areas I need to work on and have kept me motivated during a tough year to be starting out.

I am loving my time here at the PMW and I am excited to get my work out there.”

“I am grateful to have had a graduate in residence place at the PMW workshop. Despite of lockdown restrictions, it has been fantastic to be able to meet people from different backgrounds in the workshop and exchange ideas, thoughts, experiences together. Ian has been really kind and offered me and the other graduate in residence weekly business mentoring support which has been truly beneficial and inspiring, helping expand my entrepreneurial skills.

The workshop space has given me the chance to bring to life some of my digital jewellery designs that were part of my graduate collection from 2020. I am thankful for the opportunity of having been surrounded by like-minded creatives.”

"Being able to continue my creative path at the Precious Metals Workshop following graduation has been such a worthwhile opportunity. I was unsure of the route to take following my degree show, and being given a bench in such a creative environment really helped me to develop my work and continue to experiment, while also still having fellow creatives around me to bounce ideas off. The business class was extremely helpful and gave me the knowledge I needed to go forward. I also loved being able to assist in the evening classes, getting to work with people just starting out and help them fabricate their designs was really rewarding. I really enjoyed my time at the workshop and sadly it was cut short due to the unforeseen circumstances from this year, but I’m very glad I was able to spend so much time following graduation surrounded by such lovely and supporting makers and it’s an opportunity I would encourage all graduates to apply for!!"

“Continuing on to the residency at PMW following graduation has given me the valuable opportunity to continue to develop my work amongst a community of other jewellers in Leith. Coming from a range of backgrounds, this has also been a great way to continue to learn and pick up tips from other makers.

Bridging the gap between leaving Uni and starting my own business, I have benefited from insightful mentoring and advice from Ian Nicholson, as well as being encouraged to be involved with events with the workshop such as Goldflair. The opportunity to help out with classes has also been a great way to begin to learn how to teach, and pick up more skills along the way. I would definitely recommend applying to anyone who has recently graduated!”

“Being a part of the graduate programme in the Precious Metals Workshop has been a very worthwhile experience for me. Having just graduated I wasn’t really sure what to do, so having 24-hour access to a studio was hugely beneficial as it allowed me to continue my work and time to experiment as the workshop has mostly anything you would need. The weekly business mentoring sessions was a great help in the various things you need to know in order to start up a business and was open to answer any questions raised. Working with like-minded peopled allowed me to ask questions when needed and share ideas or get a second opinion. Overall, in what I thought would be a frightening experience leaving university turned into being a very warming, friendly and productive experience.”

“I am a jewellery maker and designer, who graduated from DJCAD in June 2017.  After that I joined the PMW as a resident graduate. It was a fantastic year making that jump from being a student to maker. PMW gave me the opportunity to assist in teaching classes which in turn lead to me teaching my own enamelling classes.  Mentoring sessions also helped me put together a business plan.

I would highly recommend this post to other graduates, it is a great stepping stone and allows you to meet other jewellers and use the workshop tools and equipment while you take your time to build up your own business.

The PMW has a great community spirit and a great mix of jewellers, so much so that I am still here.  I now have my own bench space and can’t see me moving for a long time.”

“Recently someone told me that to make art you have to be brave. To be this year at The Precious Metal Workshop Graduate Program has been a nice and smooth transition between college and real life. I have actually found here a nice safe space where I can be brave to create. I have found community of jewellers where we all learn from each other. I also had the opportunity of being monitored while I was putting my business plan together. In addition, I have gone deeper in many techniques that I had seen briefly during college time. Finally I have had the chance of being teacher assistant which it has been a great experience where I picked few new skills on the way.

I also have to name that thanks to the PMW I have discovered the ethic paths of jewellery through more responsible practices such a using precious metals which you can track back and also more environmentalism within the workshop.”

"After graduating from art school in 2012 the graduate in residence programme at PMW gave me a space where I could continue to develop my work. It was a great experience, seeing how a real workshop was run, meeting like minded people and gaining experience assisting with some of the classes. It was an ideal transition for me from art school into the early stages of my jewellery career and I would highly recommend it to other graduates unsure of what the next step is!"