News
Tom Jones Appointed Chair of Trustees at Bishopsland Educational Trust
Bishopsland Educational Trust is proud to announce the appointment of Tom Jones as its new Chair of Trustees. The Trust extends its sincere thanks to outgoing Chair Howard Dellar, who stepped down from the role at the Annual General Meeting held on 4 February 2026, after eight years of committed and compassionate service. We are also pleased to welcome Peter White as a Trustee.
Founded in 1993, Bishopsland Educational Trust is the only charitable organisation which delivers an intensive ten-month residential programme for talented jewellers and silversmiths emerging from full-time
education or apprenticeships. The immersive programme develops advanced hand and technical making skills alongside professional and commercial practice, leveraging its extensive network, whilst supporting participants as they progress into employment or to establish independent businesses.
The Board is delighted to welcome Tom Jones as the Trust’s new Chair. Tom is currently Chief Executive Officer of the British Allied Trades Federation (BATF) and was previously the CEO of the Aluminium Federation, where he served for over six years. Earlier in his career, he was General Manager at Mitsubishi Metals and has also served as a Board Director at the UK Metals Council. Currently Tom holds positions as a Member of the Jewellery, Silverware and Allied Crafts Roundtable (UK JSAC) and is a Member of Export Partners UK.
In addition, Tom has held numerous voluntary leadership roles across industry and the public sector, including as a Member of the Advisory Board of the Materials Processing Institute, UKRI Circular Economy Group at Brunel University, as Co-Chair of the Rules of Origin Thematic Panel (Aluminium) for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and as a Member of the Materials Industry Liaison Group for the Environment Agency.
As an apprentice trained tool maker himself, Tom’s ethos of people-centric leadership, combined with a strong focus on financial, strategic and operational excellence, as well as his inherent understanding of materials impressed the Board during a highly competitive recruitment process. As Bishopsland continues its capital fundraising campaign to continue the development of its site - expanding capacity for neurodiverse makers and outreach initiatives - Tom’s personable leadership style and extensive connections across the allied trades and the private commercial sector are seen as key strengths.
“I am privileged to have been passed the stewardship of such an important vocational training organisation with an outstanding record of achievement spanning some thirty years. Bishopsland, despite a quiet and humble exterior and small staff team, has an impact far in excess of first impressions. Joining at a critical moment in the charity’s drive towards its capital fundraising target is an opportunity I relish and I am greatly looking forward to oversee the next phase of its delivery.”Tom Jones on his appointment
Outgoing Chair Howard Dellar has guided the Trust since 2018, overseeing a period of significant growth and achievement. Most recently, he led the complex refurbishment of a new ‘home’ for the charity and its relocation to Hills Yard, within the National Trust’s Heritage and Rural Skills Centre. The project was delivered on time and within budget, securing a strong foundation for the Trust’s future.
In recognition of his long standing commitment and inspirational leadership, the Board and staff presented Howard with a unique, hand-made pen case containing a Caran d’Ache pen. The case was made by silversmith Harry Stokes, whose own career exemplifies Bishopsland’s raison d'être and impact. Harry attended the Bishopsland Programme in 2021/22, later supported it as Artist in Residence, was employed as Workshop Coordinator between 2023 and 2025, and in 2026 established his own successful commercial
silversmithing practice. His journey reflects the opportunities made possible under Howard’s stewardship.
“It has been an honour to serve as Chair of Bishopsland and to witness the Trust go from strength to strength. I am constantly in awe of the commitment and perseverance of the emerging silversmiths who join our programme, and of the great strides they make in skill, confidence and professionalism in such a short space of time.”
Howard, commenting on his tenure.
“We will miss Howard and his steely diplomacy, strong sense of fairness but above all his dry wit and affable nature. He has steered the ship admirably, but we understand that after over 8 years at the helm there are other causes which deserve his full attention. We look forward to working with Tom. He joins at a milestone moment as we have received a £100,000 private donation towards our capital fundraising target of £500,000, for which we are now seeking match funding. Peter White, having already successfully led the first phase of the redevelopment of Hills Yard is a welcome addition to the Board and we know he will continue to contribute robust and thoughtful guidance”
The board of Trustees.