New Chair welcomed at NAJ’s 2020 AGM who publishes ‘Essential Strategy’ and calls for togetherness

18 Jun 2020

 

Image: Gary Wroe, Managing Director of Hockley Mint was announced Chair of the NAJ up until 2021.

Gary Wroe, Managing Director of Hockley Mint was today announced as the new Chair of the National Association of Jewellers at the 2020 digital AGM, as former Chair Harriet Kelsall takes on the Deputy Chair position.

Serving a one-year term up until June 2021, Gary Wroe announced how honoured it is becoming Chair and paid tribute to outgoing Chair Harriet Kelsall.

“Over the last two years, Harriet has led NAJ from the front, ensuring that the vision for the future has been followed. Both I and the National Committee cannot thank Harriet enough for her efforts and for me it is reassuring to know that I have Harriet as Deputy Chair.

“All NAJ members deserve an affordable – constantly improving - experience and our volunteer, staff and supporting resources will be working hard on delivering that throughout the Essential Strategy.

“It’s vital we continue to seek and implement relevant and useful benefits, products and services. We have to deliver our services on time and to budget and the focus will be to ensure we have the right resources in the right places at the right time.”

Stepping down as Chair, moving to the Deputy Chair position, Harriet Kelsall said,

“Thank you to all of our amazing and hardworking volunteers on the National Committee who have served the membership so well and also supported me in my position for the two years of my term as the chair of the NAJ.  It is such a privilege to sit at a table with all of these highly respected business leaders who put their hearts and souls into this organisation in order to help the industry.”

Harriet stressed particular thanks to Simon Johnson and Andrew Hinds who step down from the National Committee, as well as thank David Doyle who continues as President and Gary Wroe as the new Chair,

“Under Gary’s stewardship, I know the NAJ will prosper with his experience and approach to excellence.  Thank you so much Gary for everything – and for your endless support and for agreeing to take on the Chair.

Video: the 2020 NAJ AGM

Gary announced that the NAJ’s ‘essential strategy’ is:

• Sourcing, monitoring, and sharing insights that help you make better decisions.

This means making sure you are you informed and aware of information published by the government, interpreted for the benefit of the jewellery industry, and also that you’re able to benchmark your actions with others in the trade.

• Create power networks harnessing expertise from inside and outside of the memberships.

This means working together with other organisations through initiatives like the Jeweller Support Network so the trade is presented with (and can support) a consistent, relevant and joined up message.

• Be a more active voice for the industry

This means reminding consumers about the important role jewellery plays in life memories to push business to NAJ members and provide assurance that NAJ Members are taking the necessary steps to protect their employees and customers.

• Create a comprehensive digital platform giving members quick and easy access to high value content and services.

This means improving the online experience members benefit from with the NAJ, providing better and easier ways for your business to engage with the Association.

• Create a ‘must-have’ package of compelling reasons for NAJ Membership

This means listening to the membership and ensuring NAJ benefits are fit for purpose, progressing where appropriate and introducing new benefits in line with what happens to our jewellery community.

• Ensure that our qualifications and education remain `fit for the future’, relevant for our members, and industry leading in their content and delivery

This means complete modernisation of our qualifications such as the Certificate of Appraisal Theory and introductions of new programmes in line with what members need right now.

The new Chair announced the ‘Essential Strategy’ after officially welcoming three new members of the National Committee and announcing the successful re-election of Heather Callaway and Chris Sellors.

 

 

Image: Leesha, Anna, Barry, Heather and Chris, all of whom will now serve on the NAJ National Committee for the next two years.

Joining the National Committee is Leesha Kaur from Sonny’s Jewellers in the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter who is an active member of the NAJ JET Business Network. Anna Blackburn, Managing Director of Beaverbrooks also joins the National Committee who was earlier this year announced one the Sunday Times ‘Best Leaders’ for the second year running, and Barry Sullivan, a London based Fellow of the Institute of Registered Valuers. Barry is also Chair of the Professional and Technical Standards Steering group as well as the re-formed Valuations Steering group.

Closing the day’s activities Chair Gary Wroe called for industry togetherness in challenging times,

“You are not alone. We are in this together and we’re going to continue to build this organisation around you the member, just how you will continue to build your business around your customers.

“Whatever faces us in the immediate months, it’s important we do this together as an industry. It’s imperative we look out for each other and remember the bigger picture of what jewellery can do.”

A copy of Harriet’s (outgoing) Chair’s statement is available for download, as is Gary’s (incoming) Chair’s speech.

Image: An example of the Store Safe Be COVID-19 Safe course certificate which has now been issued 1000 times.  

In her speech, Harriet pointed out the particular support the Association has delivered for its members during the Coronavirus pandemic,

“We’ve experienced more than 650 people sign up for our free JET Essentials Module and more than 2000 have taken part in our webinars since lockdown. Three times a week we’ve been hosting virtual coffee mornings which have proved popular for individuals to share their concerns and has helped focus all minds on what is important here and so far more than 250 people have joined in with them.

“We have also established the Jeweller Support Network, something which we believe will be of great benefit to the industry even more than its hub of pooled resources has proved through the pandemic – this is a sign of things ahead, the need to work together.

“We wrote and launched the COVID-19 Safety training certificate and since it launched just a fortnight ago, we have issued more than 1000 certificates so we know that we have given our members something they really needed at a time they really needed it.”

“What we do not know is the true extent to if and how consumers will change their behaviour to a ‘new normal’ society. However, what we do know is that the reasons why people buy jewellery will live on and in trying times society has taken to jewellery to show appreciation, longevity, and connection.

“Let’s not be naive about this. Tough times are ahead and as a trade, we must be able to move with them.”

No date is yet set for the 2021 AGM, which will be announced in due course.

Source: The NAJ