NAJ confirms June 2022 Summit dates
06 Oct 2021
The National Association of Jewellers has announced that the NAJ Summit will return to the De Vere Staverton Estate, Northamptonshire from Friday 10th to Monday 13th June 2022.
Building on the success of the first event, the 2022 NAJ Summit will again feature the Valuers’ Conference and Retail Jewellers’ Congress as well as the Members’ Gala Dinner and Supplier Showcase, however the latter in a revised format.
The event is comprised of talks, workshops and masterclasses from inspirational leaders and jewellery experts. The 2022 NAJ Summit will span four days, with the Valuers’ Conference taking place from late Friday afternoon until late Sunday afternoon so not to overlap with the Retail Jewellers’ Congress being held on the Monday.
Furthermore, the now one-day Supplier Showcase (Sunday) will benefit from protected time in the programme to allow more visitors to attend this important part of the event ahead of the Members’ Gala Dinner that same evening.
View the NAJ Summit 2021 Gallery
Gary Wroe, NAJ Chair said,
“It was important we listened to feedback on all elements of this year’s Summit before putting plans together for 2022. Next June we’ll be minimising overlaps between each event as well as tweaking other elements relating to movement around the venue.”
“Overall comments have been extremely positive with just the odd niggle that we’ve listened to and so made appropriate adjustments.”
“I’d also like to take the opportunity to thank Chris Sellors who has worked hard behind the scenes to launch the first Summit.
Heather Callaway FIRV, NAJ Vice Chair added,
“The Summit was a wonderful opportunity for our IRV’s to be able to mix professionally and socially with so many other members of the trade presenting a real opportunity to create new contacts. This event can only add to the opportunities for the Institute to prosper in the longer term.”
The 2021 NAJ Summit trialled a new format for the Association, whereby its annual networking opportunities and conferences were streamlined into a single event to provide greater cross-industry collaboration and conversation.
Many attendees to the Retail Jewellers Congress highlighted Boodles Chairman Nicholas Wainwright as a particular attraction, as well as Amanda Simon, Head of Engagement & People Support at Beaverbrooks. Notwithstanding the opportunity to also network with like-minded retailers was reported by many to be ‘priceless’.
Rave reviews also arrived from the Valuers’ Conference for presentations by John Benjamin, Maria Maclennan. Craig O’Donnell and David Callaghan. A valuable part of the Conference also includes the workshops, with sessions on laboratory-grown diamonds proving popular, particularly a workshop run by Julia Griffith from the Gem Academy.
The Members’ Gala Dinner was also noted as a resounding success which provided a unique networking opportunity for many. Now with planning already underway for the 2022 Summit, organisers will be aiming to build on the successes of 2021 having learned from the valuable feedback received.
NAJ President David Doyle concluded,
“This was successful as a result of the NAJ doing exactly what it was designed to do - representing all of the key areas of the jewellery trade and bringing them all together under one roof to create a dynamic and vibrant environment so people can mix, interact, learn and engage. It works productively on so many levels. We are really looking forward to continuing to develop this landmark event each June moving forward.”
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Source: National Association of Jewellers