IRV Voice: The Value of a Support Group

01 Apr 2021

As any attendee of an IRV Conference will tell you, the value of being part of the Institute goes beyond purely learning – it’s also about ongoing peer support from the IRV network. Students take note, says Ex-CAT student Alexia Taylor.

Alexia Taylor, who works at Walsh Bros. Jewellers in Tunbridge Wells, passed the IRV’s Certificate of Appraisal Theory (CAT) exam last year and is as passionate an advocate for the NAJ’s Institute of Registered Valuers as you’ll find anywhere. But, she wonders, how aware are IRV students, of the huge benefits of belonging to the ‘family’? How can we involve aspiring valuers further, to ensure that they grow their knowledge base within the IRV network?

She did some thinking,

As part of my time as a CAT student I have regularly participated in the weekly ‘Keeping You in the Loupe’ meetings that have been managed by the IRV Administrator.

These meetings had been predominantly organised and set up over the first lockdown period to support and assist IRV members at a time when working from home was the preferable option. The forum was also open to IRV students to join… however the take up has been limited.

Although daunting at first, I found these weekly sessions exceedingly informative, knowledgeable and professional. It became very clear that through participation in this group, a student would be able to fill in any (potential) ‘gaps’ in their learning, discuss difficult concepts with professionals, as well as staying up-to-date with the latest developments within the valuation world.

The benefits to IRV students of the IRV network are immense.

“There is a substantial breadth and depth of knowledge within the IRV network, due to the diverse skills set and experience of the professions participating,” Alexia explains. “Professionals from different backgrounds and different parts of the jewellery industry, with different expertise and experience are in a position to answer questions quickly and to the highest standards.” And, she adds, not only are they able, but really willing. “I’ve received so much help from people who have become like mentors. They want to pass on their knowledge.”

Alexia proposes a support network specifically for students,

“I think that is becoming more and more important for [would-be valuers] to up their game and keep learning, and the best way to do that is to be NAJ/IRV members.

“Being part of and understanding the importance of being in the NAJ family is significant for the IRV student. The NAJ provides a wealth of knowledge and also allows the IRV members and students to benefit from being part of the leading voice in the UK jewellery industry and shaping future developments. As a result there is a critical mass within the IRV member network that allows for improvements to be fed into and extended throughout the valuation industry. To make a difference in the world of valuing we need to be collaborative, and a network like this will help to break down potential barriers and give students the confidence to approach those who are more experienced,” she adds.

Adding his voice, Barry Sullivan, IRV Steering Group committee member says,

Alexia has been a very keen CAT student from the beginning, offering to help and participating in our regular IRV Friday morning Keeping You in the Loupe Teams meetings. Along with other guests we’ve invited her to attend one of our IRV Steering Group meetings; we’re trying hard to become more inclusive to all our members – including students. We want to show members how these Steering Groups work, as well as receive feedback.

Marie Garnett, NAJ Head of Education commented,

“We are really pleased that Alexia has come forward as a strong voice for the CAT and Foundation of Appraisal Practice qualification (FoAP) student community. She is passionate about the IRV and the importance of being part of such a professional and highly regarded Institute with the added benefit of being embedded within the jewellery industry trade body – the NAJ. We are currently exploring Alexia’s proposal and will be announcing more opportunities for the CAT and FoAP student body to come together as a peer support network in their own right, as well as continuing to feed into existing IRV networking opportunities”.

Expect an IRV Student Support Network any day now.

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Source: The National Association of Jewellers