04 Jul 2025
St Albans’ award-winning jewellery business, Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery on Chequer Street, has announced two major milestones: a transition to employee ownership and the appointment of a new managing director.
This announcement is especially meaningful for founder Harriet Kelsall, who was born and raised in St Albans. She attended St Albans High School, and her family are well known in the city community where her father served as a local doctor and her mother worked at St Albans Cathedral.
Over the past 26 years, the business has become known not just for its creativity, but for its pioneering work in ethical and sustainable jewellery practices, earning national recognition and accolades including Bespoke Jeweller and Ethical Jeweller of the Year.
It has now offficially become an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), which means its skilled and passionate team are now key stakeholders in its future.
Harriet said she intends to stay in the business for many years to come, combining her role with her other non-executive director roles, adding: “I’m extremely happy for this transition – it’s something I’ve been working towards for a long time. In many ways, our company has long operated in the spirit of employee ownership, with a collaborative culture and shared leadership. This move formalises our already embedded ethos.”
Coinciding with this change, Rebecca Howarth, who has been an integral part of the team for 20 years, has been appointed as the company’s new managing director.
