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THE COMPANY

WHAT WE DO

Charitable Trusts

The Company has two charitable trusts to which its Liverymen and Freemen generously donate funds. Given its relative youth the Company has a proud record - mainly in support of architectural education and scholarship. For example, from the main fund:

  • A £1000 Measured Drawing Prize is given each year at the Royal Academy
    Summer Exhibition.
  • Financial support for field trips abroad by groups of students at Schools
    of Architecture in conjunction with The City Heritage Society,
    the New City Architecture.
  • Award is given to the best building in the Square Mile each year.
  • Support, via the Lord Mayor's Appeal for St Paul's, for the refurbishment
    of the Trophy Room containing Wren's great model, drawings and
    other artefacts.
  • The purchase in conjunction with the V&A of 2 original Wren drawings
    and their donation to the RIBA Drawings Collection.
  • Annual prizes for Architecture at A Level at each of the 3 City of London Schools.
  • Presentation of a prize at the TEAM BUILD Competition organized each
    year by the Institution of Chartered Engineers.
  • Presentation of an annual prize to a student at the Chartered
    Surveyors' Training Trust.
  • Occasional support for the authors of books relating to the field of architecture.
  • Small individual donations to other charitable organizations associated with the profession or the City of London.

The Founders' Fund set up in 1993 in memory of those who helped to get the Company started has, as its main aim, the promotion of major lectures by well-known figures in the construction industry together with and necessary research on the subject of the lecture.

Apprenticeships in the Company

Dick Whittington - probably the best known City Apprentice - went on to become Lord Mayor of London on four occasions in the 14th and 15th centuries. The concept of training to a craft or trade was an important way of ensuring the continuity of high standards in those trades and the success of the medieval City. Livery Companies still regard the training of the next generation as fundamental.

The "Custom of London" by which apprentices were trained by their "Masters" was positively and necessarily draconian. Apprentices were forbidden to "play at dice, visit gaming houses" or even to get married. Today, methods of training are different and the old restrictions no longer apply.

The Company has chosen to follow the 500 year old practices of the City in that it allows for a "Counsellor" or "Mentor" (master) to be responsible for the guidance of a "Student" (apprentice).

The main elements of the scheme are:

Students must be British subjects and be following a course in architecture
recognized by the RIBA.
  • The period of "Indentures" between the Counsellor - a Liverymen of the Company -
    and the Student is for a minimum of 4 years (for those who have obtained
    Part 1 and a period of 5, 6 or 7 years for those students in earlier years.
  • The Student pays a one-off "fine" of £25.00 upon admission and the Company
    ascertains what forms of assistance the student may require in the pursuit
    of his or her studies.
  • The Counsellor supports student's endeavours during training and, when the
    period of training is complete, informs the Court on the suitability of the student
    to be admitted as a Freeman of the Company.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Most Livery Companies have connections with the armed services through the adoption of a regiment, a TAVR Unit, a ship of the line or an RAF Squadron.

As the Company was founded in peacetime it seemed appropriate that it should adopt a charitably funded service. The RNLI was selected.

Each year the Company entertains Coxswains at the Summer Dinner and in 2000 have sponsored a design competition among schools of architecture for a new Lifeboat station.

Charitable Trusts
Apprenticeships in the Company
Royal National Lifeboat Institution

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