Harriet Kelsall
| Harriet Kelsall | |
|---|---|
 Harriet-kelsall.jpg Harriet Kelsall | |
| Born | Harriet Alice Kelsall 15 May 1971 St Albans, England |
| 🏳️ Nationality | British |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| 📆 Years active | 1996-present |
| 🏅 Awards | UK Jewellery Designer of the Year; Chair of the National Association of Jewellers; Freeman and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths |
| 🌐 Website | hkjewellery |
Harriet Kelsall (born 1971) is a British Jewellery designer, entrepreneur, and advocate for ethical and sustainable practices within the jewellery industry. She is a bespoke designer working in the UK jewellery industry. She is the founder and chair of Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery. She founded her business in 1998 from her kitchen table.[1] She is regarded as a pioneer of ethics in jewellery and has held leadership roles in key industry organisations, including chair of the National Association of Jewellers and the Responsible Jewellery Council.[2]She also played a key role in the launch of Fair trade Gold and serving on several industry boards.[3]
Early life and education
Harriet Kelsall was born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in 1971. Her father, a skilled semi-professional jeweller and general practitioner, introduced her to jewellery-making at an early age. She attended St Albans High School for Girls, graduating in 1989. Kelsall earned a first-class degree in Industrial Design from Brunel University in 1993 and was awarded the Brunel University Design Prize for her academic and creative achievements.[4]
Career
After graduating, Kelsall worked in the technology sector, holding roles at companies including Logica, Lightworks Film Editing Systems, and Tektronix UK. During this period, she developed expertise in computing and the internet, which later influenced her approach to jewellery design and business. In 1996, Kelsall launched one of the first jewellery websites, making her an early adopter of online marketing for independent jewellers.[5]
Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery
Kelsall founded Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery in October 1998 in Weston, Hitchin, Hertfordshire. The company became known for combining traditional craftsmanship with innovative design processes and ethical sourcing practices.[6] In 2005, the company opened its first high-street studio in Cambridge. This achievement earned the business the UK Jewellery Award for Innovation in 2006 for making bespoke jewellery accessible to the public.[7] Additional studios were later opened in Primrose Hill, London, in 2018 [8], and St Albans in 2022.[9]
Ethics and Sustainability
Kelsall has been a prominent advocate for ethical practices in jewellery. She played a key role in the development of Fairtrade Gold, consulting with the Fairtrade Foundation to create systems suitable for small jewellers. The initiative launched in 2011, allowing jewellers to source Fairtrade-certified gold responsibly.[10][11]
In an interview with Levin Sources, Harriet Kelsall discusses her journey in ethical jewellery design, the challenges of implementing sustainable practices, and her role in shaping industry standards for responsible sourcing.[12]
In 2006, Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery became the first small business to join the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC). Later it became the first independent jeweller to achieve full certification, demonstrating its commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.[13]
Harriet has been a judge for the Global Good Awards, an internationally recognised ethical business awards program that celebrates responsible and sustainable practices. [14] She evaluates businesses based on their commitments to social and environmental responsibility, promoting ethical considerations in modern commerce. Kelsall served on the Responsible Business Council, a UK-wide advisory body for sustainable business. She helped shape policies and initiatives supporting ethical business operations and responsible growth.[15]
Leadership Roles
Kelsall has held several non-executive director (NED) and leadership positions in the jewellery and business sectors:
· Chair, National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) – the first female chair of the organisation.[16][17]
· Non-Executive Director, Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) (2016–2019).
· Non-Executive Director, British Hallmarking Council (2015–2022).[18]
· Non-Executive Director, British Allied Trades Federation (BATF).[19]
· Board Member, NED, Intellectual Property Office – Part of the UK government’s Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), where she advises on intellectual property rights.[20] [21]
·Advisor, Japanese Society of Geo-Pollution Science, Medical Geology, and Urban Geology.[22]
· Freeman and Liveryman, Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths. [23] [24]
Awards and Recognition
Harriet Kelsall, a prominent figure in the UK jewellery industry, has been recognised with numerous awards throughout her career. Here is a comprehensive list of her accolades:
· UK Bespoke Jeweller of the Year (2024): Awarded at the UK Jewellery Awards for excellence in bespoke jewellery design.[25]
· UK Ethical Jeweller of the Year (2024): Recognised for commitment to ethical practices in the jewellery industry.[26]
· Inspiring Independents 2024 Winner: Celebrated as one of the top independent jewellers in the UK. [27]
· HALO Award 2023 – National Winner: Honoured for dedication to hallmarking and consumer education.[28][29]
· Professional Jeweller – UK Inspiring Independent Power List 2023: Named among the UK's most inspiring independent jewellers. [30]
· Cambridge Bid Mystery Shop Awards 2023: Recognised for exceptional customer service in the independent shop category.[31]
· National Association of Jewellers – UK Store Design of the Year 2023: Finalist for innovative store design in the St Albans Jewellery Store and Studio. [32]
· Inspiring Independent Award Finalist 2023: Acknowledged as one of the UK's most inspiring independent jewellers.
· Business Book of the Year Award in the Start-Up category 2019: Awarded for her book, "The Creative's Guide to Starting a Business: How to turn your talent into a career."
· Retail Businesswoman of the Year, HSBC Forward Ladies (2016): Recognised for her exceptional leadership in retail.[33] [34] [35]
· Institute of Directors' Magazine (2014): Named one of six women "who have most changed the business world."
· Everywoman Retail Woman of the Year (2011): Honoured for her outstanding contributions to the retail sector.[36]
These awards reflect Harriet Kelsall's dedication to excellence, innovation, and ethical practices in the jewellery industry.
Publications
Kelsall is the author of The Creative’s Guide to Starting a Business, published in 2019. The book won the Business Book of the Year Award in the Start-Up category. [37]
The publication "Harriet Kelsall - Ethical Jewellery and Sustainable Practices" in the JSPMUG Journal (Vol. 13, No. 3-4, 2017) explores Kelsall’s contributions to ethical jewellery, her advocacy for sustainability in the industry, and the impact of Fairtrade Gold on responsible sourcing.[38]
Public Speaking and Advisory Work
Kelsall is a regular keynote speaker on STEM, entrepreneurship, and neurodiversity at institutions including:
Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge
Brunel University Speaker
Creative and Cultural Skills Academy on jewellery skills Advisor from 2012-2018
Novi Summit & Awards - Speaker.[39]
Keynote speaker for Make Your Mark, an event aimed at inspiring and guiding emerging talent in the jewellery industry.[40]
International Women's Day 2021 - Goldsmiths Centre. [41]
She is also a frequent keynote speaker on ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) at national events, including the BITC Leadership Summit and the Fair Luxury Conference, and serves as a judge for the National CSR Awards.
Personal Life
Kelsall was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 28. [42] She is an advocate for the positive aspects of dyslexia and frequently speaks about its benefits for creativity and entrepreneurship. Since 2018, she has lived in Cambridge with her 2 children, leading her business and supporting industry-wide initiatives.[43]
References
- ↑ "Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery – Cambridge". National Association of Jewellers.
- ↑ "New Chair Welcomed at NAJ's 2020 AGM". National Association of Jewellers.
- ↑ "7 Ethical and Sustainable Jewellery Brands". Fairtrade UK. 12 February 2020.
- ↑ "Meet Our Alumni". Brunel University.
- ↑ "Harriet Kelsall on Benchpeg". Benchpeg.
- ↑ "Meet Our Members – Harriet Kelsall". The Goldsmiths' Company.
- ↑ "Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery". Enjoy St Albans.
- ↑ "Bespoke Jeweller Opens in North London's Primrose Hill". Retail Jeweller. 15 February 2018.
- ↑ "Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery Set to Open 4th Studio in St Albans". National Association of Jewellers.
- ↑ "RJC Announces New Certified Member" (PDF). Responsible Jewellery Council.
- ↑ "Harriet Kelsall Design Has Been Certified by the RJC". Retail Jeweller. 4 November 2011.
- ↑ "A Conversation with Harriet Kelsall - Part Two". Levin Sources.
- ↑ "RJC Code of Practices Certification - Harriet Kelsall Jewellery Design Ltd" (PDF). Responsible Jewellery Council. June 2016.
- ↑ "Global Good Awards Judges". Global Good Awards.
- ↑ "Implementing the SDG Compass - Parts 4 & 5". Responsible Jewellery Council.
- ↑ "Harriet Kelsall Elected First Female Chair of the National Association of Jewellers". Benchpeg. 20 July 2018.
- ↑ "New Chair Welcomed at NAJ's 2020 AGM". National Association of Jewellers. 2020.
- ↑ "Harriet Kelsall Is Invited to Join the British Hallmarking Council". Benchpeg. 11 August 2016.
- ↑ "BATF Announces New CEO and NAJ Adds to National Committee as AGM Proceedings Conclude on a High". National Association of Jewellers.
- ↑ "Harriet Kelsall - UK Government Profile". GOV.UK.
- ↑ "New Chair and Non-Executive Directors Appointed". GOV.UK. 14 January 2025.
- ↑ "About Us - Japanese Society of Geo-Pollution Science, Medical Geology, and Urban Geology". JSPMUG.
- ↑ "Meet Our Members - Harriet Kelsall". The Goldsmiths' Company.
- ↑ "Meet Our Members - Harriet Kelsall". The Goldsmiths' Company.
- ↑ "UK Jewellery Awards 2024 Winners Revealed". Retail Jeweller. 26 June 2024.
- ↑ "UK Jewellery Awards 2024 Winners Revealed". Retail Jeweller. 26 June 2024.
- ↑ "Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery Wins National Inspiring Independents Award". Benchpeg. 28 October 2019.
- ↑ "HALO Award Winners Announced at the Benevolent Society Ball". GOV.UK.
- ↑ "HALO Award Winners Announced at the Benevolent Society Ball". National Association of Jewellers.
- ↑ "Power List 2023: Inspiring Independents". Professional Jeweller. 2023.
- ↑ "Mystery Shop Awards 2023". Cambridge BID. 2023.
- ↑ "NAJ Awards 2023". National Association of Jewellers. 2023.
- ↑ "Congratulations to Our Award-Winning Awards Judge". Global Good Awards. 14 December 2016.
- ↑ "Jewellery Designer from Hertfordshire Wins HSBC Retail Businesswoman of the Year". Wenta.
- ↑ "Cambridge Jewellery Pioneer Harriet Kelsall Named HSBC Retail Businesswoman of the Year". Cambridge Independent. 10 December 2016.
- ↑ "Harriet Kelsall at the Make Your Mark Awards". Assay Office London.
- ↑ "Winners 2019 - Business Book Awards". Business Book Awards.
- ↑ "Harriet Kelsall - Ethical Jewellery and Sustainable Practices" (PDF). JSPMUG Journal. 2017.
- ↑ "Harriet Kelsall - NOVA Awards Speaker". NOVA Awards.
- ↑ "Harriet Kelsall Confirmed as Keynote Speaker for Make Your Mark". Benchpeg. 20 October 2017.
- ↑ "International Women's Day: Female-Founded Businesses". Goldsmiths' Centre.
- ↑ {{Cite web |url=https://www.bulletmapacademy.com/blog/91 |title=Harriet Kelsall: Creativity, Dyslexia, and Building a Successful Business |website=BulletMap Academy
- ↑ "From Engineering Manager to Bespoke Jeweller, Author & Non-Executive Director". Midlife Unstuck. 8 September 2021.
External links
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