About the Company

The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, more commonly known as the Goldsmiths' Company, is one of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London and received its first royal charter in 1327.

The purpose of the Goldsmiths' Company is to contribute to national life by supporting craftspeople, protecting consumers and working with charitable partners to help people improve their lives.

The main objectives of the Company are:

• To support craftspeople and the wider industry and trade through training, education and promotion, primarily through The Goldsmiths’ Centre;
• To protect consumers through the Assay Office, and test the coinage of the realm annually through the Trial of the Pyx;
• To fund and support the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity in achieving its charitable objectives to help improve lives;
• To build on our traditions to enhance our contribution to life, work, education and culture in the City of London and more widely;
• To manage our financial affairs to secure the long-term future of the Company and its activities.

Supporting the Trade

Founded to regulate the craft or trade of the goldsmith, the Goldsmiths' Company has been responsible since 1300 for testing the quality of gold, silver, from 1975, platinum, and from 2010, Palladium. 

The Company continues to play an important role in support of the craft and industry, funding apprenticeships and assisting with the technical training of aspiring craftsmen. It has also made a £17.5 million investment by creating The Goldsmiths’ Centre, a unique community in the heart of Clerkenwell, providing training and workspace to goldsmiths, silversmiths and allied crafts. This is the Goldsmiths' Company's largest ever direct investment in the craft and industry with a particular focus on the trade, education and industry development.

The collection of modern silver purchased and commissioned by the Company continues to grow each year, demonstrating innovative design combined with dexterity of craftsmanship. A selling exhibition, Goldsmiths' Fair, is held each year in the last week of September and the first week of October, where members of the public can purchase the work of over eighty contemporary designers and craftsmen.

Charity and Education

The Company has long supported a wide range of charitable areas and pursues a number of educational projects with schools and teachers. Read about some of our most recently supported charities here.

The Library

The Company’s Library was established in the 1950s as part of the Company’s ambition to promote jewellery and silversmithing. Today it is the only dedicated Library to silver and jewellery in the UK, and its collections include over 8,000 books and over 15,000 images, magazines and journals, films, special research collections and subject files on a wide range of topics.

The Library is also responsible for the Company’s archives, which date back to the 14th century.

The Goldsmiths' Review

The annual Goldsmiths’ Review provides a comprehensive summary of the Company’s activities.

Visit the Review page here and purchase copies of the Review here.

Pension Scheme Information

The Goldsmiths’ Company’s Staff Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme which is closed to new members and future accruals. Members can enquire about the Scheme via the Scheme Secretary at Goldsmiths’ Hall, Foster Lane, London EC2V 6BN or by email at HRDept@thegoldsmiths.co.uk.

The Scheme’s Statement of Investment Principles and Implementation Statement are available below.

Staff Pension Scheme Investment Principles 

The investment principles of the Goldsmiths' Company's Staff Pension Scheme are available to download using the button below

Implementation statement

The investment principles implementation statement can be downloaded using the button below.