Livery Companies of the City of London

Structure and membership

Each company has its own internal constitution. Typical elements include a Master (or equivalent head), a governing Court or Board, freemen and liverymen, and often a dedicated livery hall. Membership is traditionally by apprenticeship, patrimony or admission. Full liverymen historically held the right to vote in City elections and still form a key element of City civic life.

History and development

Originating in the medieval period as organisations of artisans and merchants, livery companies regulated quality, trained apprentices and managed competition in their trades. As national regulation and industrial change reduced their regulatory role, many companies shifted toward philanthropy, education and the preservation of craft skills. Several of the oldest are collectively known as the "Great Twelve" for their historical prominence.

Modern roles and importance

• Support for education, bursaries and apprenticeships.
• Charitable giving and support for community causes.
• Civic and ceremonial functions in the City, including participation in the election of the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs by liverymen.
• Promotion and preservation of craft skills and professional networks.

There are more than a hundred livery companies today, ranging from ancient craft guilds to modern associations representing professions founded in the 20th and 21st centuries. Many maintain archives, halls and ceremonial traditions that continue to shape the identity and public life of the City of London. For further background on the setting and civic context see the City of London authorities and institutions.