Birmingham Assay Office is a diverse forward-looking enterprise with UK and overseas interests and an entrepreneurial approach that reflects the vision of the man responsible for its founding, Matthew Boulton.
Birmingham Assay Office is particularly seeking applications form those with experience in:
- Finance encompassing: Accountancy, Management Accounts, Costing, Forensic Analysis, Investment Appraisal, Treasury.
- Legal encompassing: Consumer Protection, IP, Commercial Law, International Commercial Law
- Marketing encompassing: Branding, Social Media, Market Research, Indirect sales
- Commercial experience of developing service businesses in international markets
- Laboratory encompassing: Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences
- Politics encompassing: Political appointment, Lobbying
About Birmingham Assay Office
Birmingham Assay Office is a progressive and developing business that has followed a programme of innovation and diversification. It comprises five divisions:
- Hallmarking: the assaying (testing) and marking of precious metals. It has the largest share of the UK market
- Analytical Laboratory: internationally respected as an authority in the testing of precious and non-precious metals such as nickel, lead, cadmium and other elements regulated by REACH, RoHS and other international standards and legislation. The Laboratory has also developed AnchorCert Pro, a unique UKAS-accredited testing methodology to identify and measure a suite of metallic elements that may cause Allergic Contact Dermatitis and provide regulatory compliance
- AnchorCert Gem Lab: one of the UK’s best resourced gemmological facilities
- SafeGuard: a leading valuation service for jewellery, watches and silverware
- The Academy: specialist educational training to businesses and individuals
Its modern custom-designed three-storey, 5,000 sq. m building - that acts as a gateway to Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter - is also home to a small number of academic and commercial tenants, thereby maximising use of the premises and providing an additional income-stream.
Guardians of the Standard of Wrought Plate in Birmingham
Founded by an Act of Parliament in 1773, the unique corporate structure of the company - which trades as Birmingham Assay Office - is controlled by a group of 36 elected Guardians of the Standard of Wrought Plate in Birmingham. The Guardians subsequently elect Wardens from amongst their number to serve on a non-exec committee to which the Chief Executive and Assay Master reports. The Guardians’ fundamental role is to preserve and protect the Office.
We are now seeking seasoned individuals to serve as Guardians.
Applicants must have relevant experience, knowledge and professional standing and be actively engaged in any of the areas detailed above. These are unpaid posts with an initial requirement to attend two meetings a year but with the expectation that successful applicants will also, when appropriate, be called upon to provide independent advice, professional guidance and introductions within their field of expertise for the benefit of the Assay Office.
Guardians also support specific functional committees and should be prepared to stand as a Warden if required; this is a more time consuming role and is remunerated.
Personal qualities that we look for in a Guardian include:
- Creditable and verifiable strong expertise in their specialised field
- Experience of a non-executive role in commercial scenario
- Excellent communication skills i.e. good balance as listener v talker
- Strong altruistic drive without personal agenda
- Complementary interpersonal skills to support the Wardens’ team
- Constructive approach and attitude
- Capacity and desire to provide required input
- Strong supporting network
- Understanding and appreciation of unique business structure and ability to quickly assimilate facts and drill down to the right level of detail
- Questioner and challenger, not a preacher
Apply
To apply for this role, click the apply button, and download an application form