The importance of Livery Companies in modern age

28 Feb 2020

Paul Singh reports on why he joined the Worshipful Company of Constructors, and how this ancient institution is still relevant today.
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Want to Join a Livery Company?
 
Five years ago, I joined the Worshipful Company of Constructors (WCC).
 
I know what you are thinking: “Worshipful? Is this another one of those secret handshake clubs?”.
 
That is exactly what I thought before I became a Freeman of the Company. Freeman? I hear you ask again. I could go on and on explaining these funny old school labels, but I will just stick modern day explanations in the footnotes from this point forth or in true millennial style advise you to “just google it!”.

Freeman is a sort of trial membership that does not expire but does not afford you the same benefits as full membership 
 
In a nutshell, the Worshipful Company of Constructors is part of the wider Livery Companies of the City of London. Many years ago, London was tiny and formed the hub for trades coming in and out of the country. After a while, bodies called Guilds were set up to govern these trades as, before this, it was a Game of Thrones style free-for-all for anyone wanting to, you know, buy some bread or a needle. These associations ultimately evolved to become corporations responsible for training, regulations and setting standards in their respective fields.

Most livery companies retain their historical religious associations, although nowadays members are free to follow any faith or none. 

You join a Worshipful Company as a Freeman after being interviewed by the Company’s Master (like a CEO with one year maximum term) and Court Members (like aBoard) and then after a period of service (attendance, mingling, generally getting involved) you would apply for the Freedom of the City of London. Applications are simple and are made to the City of London but rely on you being approved by your Company. You cannot just rock in and grab a certificate.

After getting the Freedom, you can put your application in to the Company to become a Liveryman and be eligible for full membership. Becoming a Liveryman is when the magic happens so getting this status is understandably much harder than the previous two stages. You really have to put the time in; however, a Liveryman is where you need to be in order to realise the real benefits. Keep reading.

Livery originated in the specific form of dress to denote status of belonging to a trade. Funnily enough when someone advised me to join, I thought he said ‘de-livery’ companies of the City of London as if Uber needed a special licence to trade in the square mile! 

There are 110 Companies at present and the number of the company represents the order in which it was incorporated. For example, number one are the Mercers (i.e. general merchants) because that was pretty big in those days. Amongst the last Companies are the Information Technologists (obviously) and the Hackney Carriage Drivers (i.e. the black cabbies) because they love getting in on things. In the middle are some truly weird ones like the Fanmakers, Girdlers and the Chartered Surveyors. Sorry, we are just weird!
 
Admittedly, a lot of the formal power that the Livery Companies had, has been dissolved in line with political upheaval and the growth of London around the City. Nevertheless, the Companies still have a lot of relevance and benefits to society although not many people know what this exactly is. I have to admit that I did not know myself even when I joined but after five years I certainly do, and they are both from a personal and professional level.
 
The purpose of the Livery companies are labelled as follows:
  1. Training and Industry.
  2. Charity.
  3. Support to the Armed Forces.
  4. City of London Governance.
 
The above is all true however this, in my opinion, is hugely underselling both its current and potential impact on society through nurturing individuals both personally and professionally. Yes, Wikipedia does highlight great practical things that the Livery Companies do for their respective industries and London in general, but we are all human beings here. The real question is, what can it do for me?
 
Well, being able to take sheep over Tower Bridge aside, the answer to that question is ‘you get what you can put into it’. Sounds a bit cliché but, whether true or not, it is counterproductive not to just roll with a cliché. Let me explain this further via my own journey through the Livery.
 
When I joined, I knew absolutely no one in the WCC. I managed to get through the application and interview process on pure merit, hard work and a bit of sales talk (Sell yourself). I therefore spent the first year (1) finding out what the hell I had joined <Understand Traditions> and (2) attending formal dinners, lunches, tours and other events at some strange times and in extravagant halls on my own (Access to the City). I admit it was hard at first and somewhat intimidating even for an assertive person like myself (Build Confidence).There are most likely going to be some big-name people <Increase Network> in your respective Company and taking that first step of approaching them, irrational as it is, may be just that little bit harder than, say, approaching someone with the same demographics as yourself (Networking Skills). However, we are all human and most strangers, when you approach them for conversation, do welcome you. Unless they are psychopaths.
 
The more events I attended, the more familiar I got with people until I received a phone call at the end of my first year from a Committee Chairman asking for a meeting. He had done a spreadsheet showing who had attended the most events during that year and top of that list was yours truly. He asked me to sit in on the next committee meeting, a request that I was honoured to accept. Although I was a spectator at this first meeting, I was asked to input a couple of suggestions in relation to certain topics. It was at this point, I felt my first sense of belonging in the Company not just as a result of having some material input (Feel Useful) but for the sheer fact that people were getting to know me and vice versa (Acquaintanceship).
 
I realised that as I had got more involved in the Company, the Company got me more involved. Remember the above cliché. The difference in feeling however between just attending the social events and attending the committee meetings was significant. I had seen and conversed with some of the committee members at the events but not really made enough of an impression for them to seek me out. Now they had seen me input into the Company, they had a different approach to me. Committee membership had improved the quality of my experience at social events and vice versa so much so, in fact, that fast forward five years and I sit on four committees and Chair one (the Young Members Committee) as well as regularly attend most of the events including the Master’s Weekend(s) and Charity events. I have improved both as a person and professional, grown my network, broadened my social life and actually made friends (Friendship). 
 
I know what you are thinking. How do you find the time for this especially if you have a 9-5? Again, remember the cliché: ‘you get what you can put into it’. The emphasis on both the ‘you’ and the ‘can’ here is important. Everyone is different and have their own goals and battles to deal with. Make it work for you: not all events are in the day; if you need to attend something during the day, employers might not mind if you offer to make up those hours after work; employers might pay the annual fees as a business expense; if money for events is an issue, be selective about the events or save up. These are only some suggestions of how to make the Livery work for you however the point it that if you want something bad enough then you will make it happen.
 
Ten years ago, I wanted to be in a position within the Construction Industry which allowed me to lead positive change. Joining the WCC has put me on the right path as I am aligning regularly with the right industry people whether during socials, meetings or a cheeky drink. I don’t know of any other industry organisation that gives the personal growth stuff as well as the practical. Not to say Livery Companies are perfect. They are far from it and have allowed themselves to become too modest over the years in relation to their true worth. But I know that the potential is there and feel that I am now in a position to help my Company in particular take the Construction Industry where it needs to be.

References

  1. Livery Company
  2. Constructors Company

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