Gary Wroe
We are delighted to relaunch the Meet the members series - a collection of short interviews that show the wider world what being a freeman or liveryman of The Goldsmiths' Company is all about. Today we're talking to Liveryman Gary Wroe.
Tell us about you and your career
When I was in school, I dreamed of becoming a jeweller. I even had the chance to study jewellery design during my lunch breaks and proudly earned my only CSE qualification in the subject. My journey in the jewellery industry began at the age of 16 when I joined the Youth Training Scheme (YTS) apprentice program run by the British Jewellers’ Association. My first role was as an assistant in the casting shop at Engelhard on Spencer Street in Hockley.
As a young father, I needed to support my family, so after 18 months, I moved to Merrell Casting (now Hockley Mint Ltd). Through hard work and dedication, I advanced to the position of Production Manager by the age of 25. At this point in my career, I faced a major decision: I was offered the opportunity to run a pub in central Birmingham. However, I chose to continue my path in the jewellery industry, and this year marks 40 years in the field—a milestone I’m proud to celebrate.
At the age of 36, I became Managing Director of both Merrell Casting and Hockley Mint Ltd. During this time, I pursued part-time studies and earned an Executive MBA from the University of Birmingham in 2005. This was a significant accomplishment for me, given that I left school with only one CSE qualification and no prior university education.
Beyond my role at Hockley Mint, I’ve held several leadership positions within the jewellery industry. I’ve served as Chairman of the British Jewellers' Association (BJA)—the very organization that gave me my start—President of the British Allied Trades Federation (BATF), and Chairman of the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ). Currently, I am the President of the NAJ. Additionally, I serve as a Warden of the Birmingham Assay Office and a Trustee of The Benevolent Society. In 2021, I was honoured to become a Liveryman.
How did you first come to hear about the Goldsmiths’ Company?
While working at Hockley Mint and becoming more involved with the industry through the NAJ and British Allied Trades Federation, I started to become aware of the Goldsmiths company through Patrick Fuller, David Doyle and Peter Taylor. It was after attending events and becoming more involved that I decided to apply.
Why did you become a member of the Company?
As you can see by my history, jewellery has always been an important part of my life. It has given me the opportunities that I would never imagine as a 16-year-old – from running Hockley Mint to being Chair of the BJA/NAJ to becoming a Liveryman of The Goldsmiths Company. My passion is the next generation and ensuring we have the skills for the future so being part of the Company fits perfectly with my aspirations.
What are you involved in at the Company?
Currently I sit on the Membership Committee which meets quarterly, and I also sit on the Membership EDI Working Group (MEDIWG). I enjoy both committees as they are full of passionate and really top people!
How would you describe the Company in three words?
Championing, Enlightening, Exciting