A former social worker who spent more than 26 years supporting children and families is forging a new career by turning his lifelong passion for craftsmanship into a handmade jewellery business.
Tom Farncombe has launched Lughna Silver, creating individually handmade silver jewellery after deciding to step away from a varied career that saw him working in both children’s education and, more recently, in protection roles as a Children’s Guardian.
Having been fascinated by creativity and crafting since childhood, Tom developed his skills over many years, initially carving and working with a range of different materials before teaching himself leatherwork, silversmithing and gemstone cutting. For much of his career, crafting provided an important creative outlet from the demands of social work.
Tom says: “Working in child protection, you can see some incredibly difficult things, so being creative became a way for me to switch off and focus completely on making something.”
Tom first discovered silversmithing following a serious road accident and subsequent period of ill health which left him unable to work for a time. Having given more than 26 years to social work, Tom decided that the time was right to explore whether his passion could become his main business after his recovery.
He approached TEDCO Business Support for assistance as he looked to reposition and rebrand an earlier craft business and develop the commercial skills required to make self-employment sustainable. Working with TEDCO Solutions Advisor Hayley Campbell through the Durham StartUps programme funded by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, Tom has received support around areas including marketing, networking, invoicing, financial administration and the practicalities of running a business.
Tom says: “I can make the jewellery, but marketing and the business administration side are much less natural to me. I needed to rethink how I presented the business and get some advice about how to connect with customers and market what I do. “Having that support is helping me understand the other side of running a business rather than just concentrating on making things.”
His handmade approach means every piece is individual, with one of his ring designs requiring approximately 300 individual punches to create its distinctive finish.
Tom adds: “Every ring is handmade, so each one is slightly different, and seeing something I have created become a treasured possession for people is incredibly rewarding. Those connections are a big part of why I make what I make. “There is always something else to learn with silversmithing. I could do this for the rest of my life and still never reach the point where I felt I knew everything. “That is what keeps me interested. After 26 years in social work, I’m enjoying the opportunity to take something that has always been a passion and see where I can take it as a business.”
Hayley Campbell, Solutions Advisor at TEDCO, said: “It’s been a privilege to see Thomas turn his passion for silverwork into a business over recent months. His creations are truly unique and his customers find immense value in the handcrafted jewellery he is creating. “Just as importantly, Thomas has demonstrated that the benefits of setting up your own business aren’t always just financial; they can be about pursuing a passion and gaining fulfilment from the freedom of being self-employed.”
Durham StartUps is part of the Enterprising Durham Framework and provides entrepreneurs with access to a broad range of business support in County Durham. This project is funded by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.
