A new Chair and a new Strategy for the NAJ

16 Jun 2022

 

The 2022 NAJ AGM saw the Chair baton passing as Heather Callaway succeeded outgoing Chair Gary Wroe. The Annual General Meeting also introduced the National Association's new strategy focused on shaping professional excellence for the industry through compliance, profitability and responsibility. 

Opening his final report, and final duties as Chair, Gary said, 

“Well, I’ve been fortunate enough to have held the Chair position with the National Association of Jewellers for the last two years. Two years in which we learned to expect the unexpected, realise all the things that we once took for granted and see real sacrifice and heartache in the face of disease, war and social justice. 

"In business it’s been a time to be relevant, to be agile and to be true to your values. Throughout my time as chair, these three considerations have guided me, my supporting national committee and the staff team to move NAJ to a better place. I genuinely feel that despite all that has happened, the Association is now in the strongest position it has been in since the merger in 2017.” 

As part of the formal business of the meeting, Gary confirmed that Heather Callaway had been elected Chair until 2024 before handing the chain of office and meeting over to the newly elected Chair.  

In Heather's first duty as Chair, she informed the meeting that Adam Jacobs had been elected Vice-Chair and David Doyle re-elected President until June 2023.  

Joining the NAJ National Committee is Mehdi Saadian, Director of GIA's London campus. Mehdi began his career in jewellery by managing a small jewellery business in Iran. He went on to work as a store manager for a high-end jeweller in London before joining GIA's London campus as a gemmology instructor. Mehdi received a BA in Business Administration and Graduate Gemologist diploma from GIA in 2007. In addition to being an NAJ's IRV, he is a Member of the International Society of Appraisers, and a Practicing Associate of the Academy of Experts.  

In Gary's closing words in his final Chair's report, he thanked all those that helped him during his time in office. 

“Firstly, I’d like to thank the National Committee and the staff team for their support. They’ve supported me in and out of meetings throughout a challenging time for all, again all putting the needs of the members at the forefront of their minds and I’m delighted to have worked with them over this period. Thank you to all for your commitment and for all that you’ve done for the membership in this time. 

"Next a huge thank you goes to Harriet Kelsall who this year steps down from the National Committee after a number of years working tirelessly for the Association. I am pretty sure Harriet will be popping up to help with projects that we have planned moving forward – but seriously Harriet has been instrumental in shaping the Association into what it is today. 

"You will be hearing from Heather very soon but I would like to thank her for her support over the last couple of years as vice-chair, watching Heather lead the Education steering group I am sure she will make a super chair. 

"And of course, David Doyle, NAJ’s President. The president’s role for the last 2 years has not been what it should have, and I can only apologise to David – David thought the role was to host dinners and not spill soup down his tie – how wrong he was. He’s always had time to listen and always put the members needs first, often before his own. He has not only supported me but the team and the national committee immeasurably over the last 2 years and genuinely David, I can’t thank you enough. 

"Another apology to Lynn my wife, who has not only supported me with the world of Hockley Mint but also the world of NAJ – thank you 

"Finally, I’d like to say a thank you to the membership. As a membership we don’t all look the same, sound the same, even represent the same area of the jewellery trade, but this is what makes a jewellery community. This is whom, NAJ will continue to celebrate and strive to deliver for. We are one jewellery sector, and NAJ is the association that represents the needs and views of all. NAJ is here for you, but thank you for always being there for me.” 

As new Chair, Heather Callaway introduced the NAJ's new strategy, which will lead the direction of the Association and its members. 

“Our strategy aims to ‘shape professional excellence for jewellery businesses and their people.’ This means we’re not only looking at how we can strengthen the member offer but also how to inform more 

"individuals of and give access to all the relevant and practical guidance and information. I’m particularly excited about this as it really brings together all the work we’ve done with our Jewellery Education and Training, despite being on a more informal on demand level. 

"Our framework grows from our three core pillars of compliance, profit and responsibility – not just for individual businesses and their people but for the Association. We now have a real determination to progress professionally and sustainably within the team, for the membership experience to be the best it can be and for the organisation to continue to grow commercially and to represent all members appropriately.” 

The Chair’s Report in full (Gary Wroe) 

Well, I’ve been fortunate enough to have held the Chair position with the National Association of Jewellers for the last two years. Two years in which we learned to expect the unexpected, realise all the things that we once took for granted and see real sacrifice and heartache in the face of disease, war and social justice. 

It may have been two years in the simple metric of time, but in terms of the journey we’ve been on, I do feel this chair ship has been quite a bit longer. 

In business it’s been a time to be relevant, to be agile and to be true to your values. Throughout my time as chair, these three considerations have guided me, my supporting national committee and the staff team to move NAJ to a better place. I genuinely feel that despite all that has happened, the Association is now in the strongest position it has been in since the merger in 2017. 

And, before I hand over to Heather Callaway, NAJ’s new Chair, I’d like to share some of my highlights and also say a few thank you’s. 

The NAJ’s place within the jewellery industry 

The NAJ now, I think, understands its place in the sector. The things it couldn’t do in the pandemic will remain in its competitive offering, but now the Association’s foundation sits squarely in the standards and support space, as an authority who will always have the back of its members. From translating government updates, to producing branded covid guidance, joining forces with other bodies to make sure members were legally compliant, NAJ was more engaged with its members than it's ever been and the lesson we have learnt, well Heather will come on to that later. 

The pandemic did reduce our costs as a business, and when you take into account the increased engagement and continued support of members, NAJ ended 2021 in a positive financial position. Now, as we move through 2022 retention remains strong and recruitment encouraging, especially from core membership areas. We are keen to be getting out there to maintain existing relationships and grow new ones, both domestically and internationally. Watch this space. 

Growth and developments for the NAJ 

Just in the last 6 months, the team has progressed well and schemes that, admittedly have taken time to come to fruition, are now starting to flourish, I am confident that they will support the British Jewellery sector for many years to come.  

In the membership space, Created in the UK is now at audit stage with team members getting out to visit businesses on the scheme to be able to assure product is made in the UK and offer businesses the opportunity to shout about it. You will see an example of the Created in the UK mark on the winning piece for the BATF Platinum Jubilee Competition. 

In education, we have now submitted our application to become a recognised End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO). This will be a huge accolade for the BATF/NAJ because it means that we can play our part in training and bringing new talent into the jewellery industry, both in jewellery manufacturing and retail. Just this work alone has felt like setting up an entirely new business with countless hours producing papers and policies to demonstrate financial viability, robust governance and professional assessment practices. All this in time to maintain the possibility of the first cohort in September. 

Since the launch of the new website, we have been steadily improving the quality and accessibility of trade and consumer focused information. While I know there is some way to go, but we are on the right track, with data now showing the website is being looked at 14 times more than when it was in 2019. Major growth areas are the Find a Jeweller and Find a Valuer directories, the latter also benefitting from another major development, the launch of which is imminent. 

The Jeweller, and also the NAJ Yearbook continue to be our central communication tool for informing, supporting and celebrating the membership. I do think moving the publication to represent more of a journal than a typical magazine is now making it stand out and be even more valuable to the members. 

I’m absolutely one for events and it’s great to feel the apprehension ahead of the Summit this weekend. Our first Summit in September was great to finally deliver, and now we’re excited to be here with the second. The Sunday night promises to be memorable with now the NAJ Awards joining the gala dinner and live music. Another event which I am fond of is the Benevolent Society Ball as it moved to Grand Hotel Birmingham. It was wonderful to present the Chair’s Award to the trade charities for all that they did for the people of the sector through the pandemic. We will be presenting the Chairs Award again in December so do please look out for more information later in the year. 

A seamless link here from plugging the Benevolent Society ball to my thank yous. 

Thank you 

Firstly, I’d like to thank the National Committee and the staff team for their support. They’ve supported me in and out of meetings throughout a challenging time for all, again all putting the needs of the members at the forefront of their minds and I’m delighted to have worked with them over this period. Thank you to all for your commitment and for all that you’ve done for the membership in this time. 

Next a huge thank you goes to Harriet Kelsall who this year steps down from the National Committee after a number of years working tirelessly for the Association. I am pretty sure Harriet will be popping up to help with projects that we have planned moving forward – but seriously Harriet has been instrumental in shaping the Association into what it is today. 

You will be hearing from Heather very soon but I would like to thank her for her support over the last couple of years as vice-chair, watching Heather lead the Education steering group I am sure she will make a super chair. 

And of course, David Doyle, NAJ’s President. The president’s role for the last 2 years has not been what it should have, and I can only apologise to David – David thought the role was to host dinners and not spill soup down his tie – how wrong he was. He’s always had time to listen and always put the members needs first, often before his own. He has not only supported me but the team and the national committee immeasurably over the last 2 years and genuinely David, I can’t thank you enough. 

Another apology to Lynn my wife, who has not only supported me with the world of Hockley Mint but also the world of NAJ – thank you 

Finally, I’d like to say a thank you to the membership. As a membership we don’t all look the same, sound the same, even represent the same area of the jewellery trade, but this is what makes a jewellery community. This is whom, NAJ will continue to celebrate and strive to deliver for. We are one jewellery sector, and NAJ is the association that represents the needs and views of all. NAJ is here for you, but thank you for always being there for me. 

The Chair’s Report in full (Heather Callaway) 

“Before I do move onto Strategy, I’d like to thank Gary for all his efforts over the last three years. I know David will say a few words shortly, but I do want to add some of my own now. Gary is one of the busiest men in the trade, and yet he has time for NAJ, for BATF and for the charitable endeavours he supports. We know Gary has continued to push NAJ to be leading the sector, to demonstrate value to members and to challenge the committee on how we can support jewellers and jewellery businesses become the best they can be, both now and in the future. You’ve steered the NAJ through what has been a turbulent time for society, and a time of uncertainty for the trade. Thank you for being there for NAJ, for the national committee and for the members. It is because of you, and people like you in the Committee that I’m so excited to be taking on the Chair Role. Thank you. 

Now, I’m so grateful for this opportunity, and I’m especially thankful to the friends and colleagues on the National Committee for their support. As Gary mentioned I take the role of Chair ready for the delivery of our new strategy. 

A new strategy 

This is a strategy Team NAJ has been working on for the past few months and is really and simply focused on standards, benefits and responsibility. NAJ membership must provide peace of mind to customers, suppliers and employees. All our members have agreed to abide by our Code of Conduct, which is built on the Association’s values of Honesty, Integrity and Professionalism, and I plan to make sure our activities underpin exactly that. 

Working for the members, I want to maintain and improve our position as the most relevant, important and useful association in our fantastic industry. In these times of ever-increasing prices, our members need to get real value for money for their membership, ensuring they can make more money or save more money through benefits and support that improve and help their businesses whatever their size, scope or service. 

Our strategy aims to ‘shape professional excellence for jewellery businesses and their people.’ This means we’re not only looking at how we can strengthen the member offer but also how to inform more 

individuals of and give access to all the relevant and practical guidance and information. I’m particularly excited about this as it really brings together all the work we’ve done with our Jewellery Education and Training, despite being on a more informal on demand level. 

Our framework grows from our three core pillars of compliance, profit and responsibility – not just for individual businesses and their people but for the Association. We now have a real determination to progress professionally and sustainably within the team, for the membership experience to be the best it can be and for the organisation to continue to grow commercially and to represent all members appropriately. 

My role as Chair 

I intend to use my extensive and varied association and work experience to ensure we support our members through their people. You may not know, but I started on the shop floor and worked up to store manager. Since qualifying as a valuer, I’ve worked in auction houses, for many major jewellery retailers and organisations and for private clients. 

I’ve been involved with the Association for eight years and sat on the National Committee for six. This has meant I’ve been in countless meetings and committees discussing and listening to all aspects of the trade. The one key constant throughout that time is a realisation that people shape success. 

What I bring to the role of chair is the appreciation of the impact an individual can make on a business, no matter their experience or background. I’m really excited our new strategy presents an opportunity for the NAJ to support people at all levels. Having been chair of the Education Committee for four years (underlining my love for training, coaching and mentoring), I’m looking forward to joining the dots between NAJ’s formal and informal education and training offer. 

Thank you again to all for the warm welcome and I look forward to updating you of progress as we move forward. 

Finally, before handing across to David Doyle for closing comments, I’d like to thank you for your attendance today and your support. Both my report and Gary’s will be published and shared with the NAJ Membership through the NAJ Website.” 

Source: National Association of Jewellers