Touchstone Award Training Day
On 18 November, the British Hallmarking Council (BHC) welcomed Trading Standards officers from 8 London Boroughs for the Annual Touchstone Award Training Day. This was kindly hosted by the London Assay Office at The Goldsmiths’ Company.
The Touchstone Award, sponsored by the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) and supported by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), exists to recognise Trading Standards teams who deliver exceptional work in enforcing the Hallmarking Act: protecting consumers, and supporting legitimate jewellers across the UK. With the rise of online marketplaces, fast-moving imports, and increasingly sophisticated illegal traders, effective hallmarking enforcement has never been more vital. The Award shines a light on teams whose work preserves confidence in precious-metal goods and ensures that consumers can trust the hallmark – one of the UK’s oldest and most enduring forms of consumer protection.
A day of learning, recognition and collaboration
During the day, attendees heard directly from the winning enforcement team – London Trading Standards – about the ‘Stamping It Out’ project: an operation that has already removed more than £250,000 worth of non-compliant and illegal items from the London market. Members of the London Assay Office joined the BHC to share best practice, discuss enforcement challenges, and strengthen collaboration between regulators and frontline Trading Standards officers. Guests were then hosted by the London Assay Office for a practical, behind-the-scenes tour, demonstrating how hallmarking testing and verification operate in real time. This hands-on session allowed winners to deepen their technical knowledge and connect their enforcement work directly to the centuries-old processes that protect consumers and the trade.
Simon Topman, Chair, British Hallmarking Council:
“The British Hallmarking Council is honoured to celebrate success from within Trading Standards by making this annual award. Enforcement of the Hallmarking Act is essential to protect consumers and legitimate business. This year’s winners delivered a fantastic team effort and we look forward to this work being rolled out to other parts of the country.”
Stuart Radnedge, Regional Coordinator: London Trading Standards:
“We are extremely proud to have achieved such outstanding results from our operations across London. Our participating members took part because protecting consumers and legitimate businesses is a major priority for Trading Standards. Thanks must go to the British Hallmarking Council, the London Assay Office, the sponsors and organisers of the Touchstone Award for this prestigious annual event, which supports Trading Standards in enforcing hallmarking compliance at retail level and promotes the trust that people feel when they see the Hallmarking signs on jewellery”.