Freedom of the Company
The Guild of World Traders was formed in 1985, and became a full livery company on 1st January 2000. Thus we became the first new livery company of the new millennium. Many older established livery companies have diminished links with their trade (usually because that trade has itself diminished). This Company, however, is particularly keen that its members do have strong links with World Trade, so that we can play an active role in the promotion and encouragement of international trade.
The Company is governed by its Court of Assistants which meets four times a year (analogous to a company board of directors or club committee), and which is chaired by the Master, who holds that office for one year.
If you would like to receive further information about the financial and other commitments involved, please email the Clerk at clerk@world-traders.org. We would like however to make clear that it is in the nature of membership of a City Livery Company such as ours that the commitment is for life.
If you do wish to apply for membership, the procedure is that your completed application form will need to be proposed by two liverymen (one of whom should be a Court Assistant) and your proposer will be asked to provide a covering letter of support. Your application will then be placed before the Membership Committee, and thence before the Court. You will then be invited for interview and, assuming success, you will be required to attend a Court meeting to be formally admitted to the Freedom of the Company in a short ceremony later in the year. Subsequently you will be eligible, and expected to apply, for the freedom of the City of London, and thereafter to become a liveryman of the Company.
You will appreciate from the forgoing that it is a fairly lengthy procedure, but in keeping with the long term commitment indicated earlier. However, should you wish to attend any of the Company's events as a guest prior to your formal admission, you would be most welcome. You will be provided with details of these on receipt of your formal application. The programme of social and other activities may be summarised as usually one event each month, ranging from formal dinners to informative lunches. If you have not attended a World Traders' event before, it is strongly recommend that you come to one before your interview.
GiftAid
It is the custom to make a donation to the Company's Charitable Trust at this ceremony, by way of a Gift Aid Declaration and banker's order. No guide-lines are laid down as to the amount that is appropriate - it is entirely at the Freeman's discretion and means. But to try and be helpful, recent standing orders have ranged from £100 to £500 per annum, though there have been one or two very much greater, and a couple a little less.
Recent grants have been made by the Trustees to, for example, the Mission to Seafarers, Treloar's College (a residential school for severely disabled young people), and to City based charitable appeals such as the Sheriffs' and Recorder's Fund and to the Lord Mayor's charity. Additionally, we now make grants, bursaries and prizes to nine different educational establishments. Total giving (which is limited by the Trustees to the amount of income derived from the capital in the Fund) is about £12,000pa. The Clerk will send you the necessary paperwork.
Where is Guildhall? EC2P 2EJ
The Chamberlain's Court has moved within Guildhall. It is now on the Ground floor in the North Wing. Access is via the North Wing Reception (ask for the Chamberlain's Court) which is situated at the back (north) of the building, off the Basinghall Piazza between Basinghall Street and Aldermanbury.
Guildhall lies to the north of Gresham Street, and there are entrances to Basinghall Piazza from Basinghall Street and Aldermanbury. The nearest tubes are Bank or Moorgate. The telephone number of the Chamberlain's Court is 020 7332 3055
