Introducing … The Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers alias Wire Workers

Have you ever heard of Livery Companies? Dating back centuries, they are steeped in history. Traditionally, they regulated specific trades in and around the City of London. If you traded in salt, then you had to be a member of the Salters’ Company. If you sold fish, you would be regulated by the Fishmongers’ Company, and so on.

Why “Livery”? Because during their formal meetings, the members originally wore a livery – in other words, a fancy uniform.

In 1670 came the ‘Tin Plate Workers alias (meaning “and”) Wire Workers’ Company, granted its royal charter by King Charles II. Other Livery Companies from this period included the Wheelwrights (making wheels for carriages) and the Pattenmakers (for footwear).

As time went by, the Livery Companies lost control over their trades, and they evolved into social membership organisations with a strong focus on fellowship and charitable giving. Today, there are 113 Livery Companies. Two of these are less than a year old: the Worshipful Company of Entrepreneurs and the Worshipful Company of Communicators, both founded in 2025.

So, the Livery Companies continue to thrive in the 21st century. There are about 30,000 members, drawn from across the country.

The Tin Plate Workers alias Wire Workers have about 160 active members. They hold five formal black-tie events in the City of London each year, where members and their guests are given unique access to some of the oldest and grandest of the 40 Livery Halls in the City. A range of informal events are also laid on. Recent highlights included a tour of the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales while berthed in Liverpool, and a visit to the Tata Steelworks in South Wales.

There’s a strong emphasis on “giving something back”. The Charity Fund of the Tin Plate Workers alias Wire Workers makes grants each year in the region of £80,000, with a particular focus on education. It runs the Metals Apprentice of the Year Competition, supports an annual exchange programme in the USA with the Wire Association International, and funds a wide range of bursaries and awards at several universities for students working in metals. Members of the Company enjoy the chance to get involved in judging panels, as well as making charitable donations for such worthy causes.

So, there you have it. Membership of a Livery Company like the Tin Plate Workers alias Wire Workers gives you some unique opportunities: access to some of the most historic dining venues in the City of London (great places to entertain family, friends, and business contacts), excellent networking opportunities, and the chance to “give something back”.

For more information, please visit the website, or for membership enquiries, please email Neil Lyon at the.clerk@tinplateworkers.co.uk

www.tinplateworkers.co.uk