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Employee Ownership at Robert Gatward

The move to Employee Ownership isn't just a change in structure - it's a commitment to the kind of company we want to be. Robert Gatward has always valued craftsmanship, care and community. becoming an EOT builds on that foundation, ensuring that every member of our team is recognised not just as a contributor, but as a stakeholder in our shared future.

  • Fairness: Decisions are made with the long-term wellbeing of all employees in mind. the trust structure protects against short-term thinking and better than an external takeover, ensuring that our success is built on stability and mutual respect.
  • Transparency: Clarity is a mark of true luxury. We share our decisions openly so every colleague understands the journey we’re on and the standards we uphold.
  •  Shared Success: When the business thrives, everyone benefits. Shared ownership means every achievement is felt collectively, strengthening pride, purpose, and performance across the entire company.

This is more than a legal framework. it's a cultural shift toward ownership, pride, and partnership.

A Personal Message

"Bridie and I fulfilled our dream of owning a business together when we purchased our first store, Robert Gatward Jewellers, in the Oxfordshire market town of Thame in 1999.  Right from the start, we made a promise to each other that every customer who walked through our doors would be treated with honesty, expertise and genuine care. Jewellery and watches are deeply personal.

They mark engagements, anniversaries, triumphs, and turning points to name but a few. To be trusted with those moments is a privilege we have never taken lightly.

Over the decades, we have watched our team grow into something extraordinary. Their knowledge, their warmth and their dedication to doing things properly are the qualities that shaped our reputation. Our long-standing relationships with the world’s most respected watchmakers and jewellers have been built on these same principles of trust, consistency and shared values. The expertise and passion that the brands we work with exude, mirror our own pursuit of perfection and our team are committed to maintaining and strengthening these relationships.

As Bridie and I approached retirement age, we faced the same succession planning questions that many family owned independent businesses wrestle with: How do you protect the soul of a business you’ve poured your life into?

When we started to look into employee ownership, it was a lightbulb moment. It not only felt right, but absolutely perfect.

By selling our company to our employees and creating an Employee Ownership Trust, we are ensuring that the values we built this business on are safeguarded for generations. Our independence is protected. Our standards cannot be diluted. The wonderful team who have given so much of themselves to this company now have a genuine stake in its future.

In order to strengthen the transition to employee ownership, I will remain as Managing Director, continuing to guide the business day-to-day and uphold the principles that Bridie and I committed to from the beginning, 27 years ago.

We could not be prouder of what we have built together, and I’m even more excited about what comes next."

Keith Gill (Managing Director, Former Owner, Robert Gatward Jewellers)