MP Rachael Maskell hails York College's commitment to preserving endangered craft skills

The Heritage Crafts Association recently added Silversmithing Allied Trades to their red list of endangered crafts, with certain precious handmaking skills, dating back to the Bronze Age, having almost disappeared from school curriculums and Higher Education programmes in this country over the past decade.

York College, however, still provide opportunities for school leavers, degree-level students and adult evening class learners to acquire Silversmithing Allied Trades skills, such as casting, polishing and chasing and repoussé.

Plans are also in place to extend this offering with the purchase of a spinning lathe.

At undergraduate level, the college’s University Centre is now the only institution in Yorkshire to offer a jewellery and fine metal pathway, as part of their BA (Hons) 3D Creative Practice degree.

Other courses incorporating a specialist jewellery and metalsmithing component at the college include a Level 3 UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Practice (3D Design Pathway) and a York School of Art Jewellery evening class.

The possibility of adding a T Level in Craft and Design (Jewellery Maker) to the curriculum in September 2026 is under consideration, too.

Labour and Co-operative Party politician Maskell visited campus for a tour of the college workshops this month and even made her own pendant, employing some of the endangered craft skills she is equally as determined to protect.

She said: “York College’s commitment to keeping the heritage arts and crafts alive, and handing skills down to future generations, enables our city to be a centre of excellence for heritage. I deeply value those who invest time in instructing students in these traditions. 

 “I was so impressed by how the college is working with schools to give young people a practical introduction to their courses, and how there was something for everyone in the York School of Art, from Level 1 skills through to degree level courses. The tutors were so committed to ensuring that students can thrive and heritage arts can be part of our future and not just our past.

“I wish all the students well as they refine their skills and I am now working with the college to support and connect them with other opportunities to benefit our city.”

Ms Maskell has also written to the Minister of State for Skills Jacqui Smith to signal concerns over the future of traditional crafts and their education.

In reply, the Right Hon Baroness Smith thanked College for our “interest in preserving craft skills” and stated: “Skills England has been working closely with the Heritage Crafts Association and Creative Alliance to look at ways to preserve heritage craft skills through apprenticeships, education or training, qualifications, and flexible models of delivery.”

A lack of structured training pathways, of qualifications and of government funding in recent years has led to a skills gap in the UK, resulting in businesses across the silversmithing and jewellery trades facing a struggle to employ competent and qualified staff.

Such traditional hand skills remain vital in the production of so many every-day items that are taken for granted, such as cutlery, silver jewellery and sports trophies.

Learning Assistant Laura Masheder Brown, who runs York College’s Jewellery and Fine Metal workshop, pointed out that interest in learning the endangered skills is also high from students enrolled on other Art & Design courses.

“The workshop is open to all Art & Design students who might like to try metalsmithing and I am inducting around 300 over the next six weeks.” Laura revealed. “The more I engage with others in education, the more I realise how increasingly rare and valuable our workshops and resources truly are here.”

Having recently acquired Heritage Crafts Association membership, the college are also looking to safeguard the future of metalsmithing by hosting masterclasses for GCSE 3D Design students from Millthorpe School. 

York College & University Centre Art & Design Curriculum & Standard Manager Phil Simpson added: “We would like to thank Rachael Maskell for taking the time to visit us and learn more about the heritage craft skills we equip our students with and the importance of preserving such endangered traditional working practices. We were very impressed with the pendant that Rachael made during her tour of our workshops and very much appreciate her raising awareness on a national and local scale of the current skills gap and threat to Silversmithing Allied Trades.”