Page 14 - A4 Journal 2022

The Company

Committee Reports

There are 7 committees within the Company operating under the auspices of the GP Committee and they
each report their progress through the year. There is also an intent to form an eighth committee that will
look at the how effectively the Company reflects the diverse nature of the construction industry and seek to
ensure that the Company is really inclusive to all. The reports of the various committees are:

1 Finance Committee
Tina Seymour is not only our immediate Past Mistress, but is also our Honorary Treasurer, and has provided this brief
report for the Journal. She writes:
“Despite the pandemic we have managed to survive the last two years. The 20-21 accounts have now been finalised and
show a surplus for the year of £51,457.
This includes a revaluation of the investments of £39,220 as at 30th September 2021. Of course the value of investments
goes up as well as down and investment values have gone down globally over the last 12 months. Until our investments
are realised any increase is illusionary.
We have also taken this opportunity to tidy up the accounts. This exercise resulted in an increase of £7,821 which is
included in the surplus shown. The operating surplus for the year was therefore £4,416 as detailed below:
Gross Surplus (as reported by the Accountant) £51,457
Less: Revaluation of Investments £39,220
Adjustments following “tidying up” £7,821
Nett Surplus: £4,416

We expect to make a loss for the 21-22 year and we have had to dip into our reserves. This was expected and budgeted
for although we did not raise as much as we had expected from our quarterage and have lost some members. However
we are now in a good place with increased expenditure on IT and bookkeeping help. We have budgeted to make a small
loss for the coming year and hope to be back to a break even footing the year after.”

2 Climate Action Committee
Court Assistant Martin Gettings, the Chair of the Committee writes:
“At no time in History was the service of the Constructor more in need.
With buildings, and their associated construction and supply chain, being responsible for 40% of the worlds carbon
emissions, it is abundantly clear that the built environment and its Constructors, can not only be a part of the solution to
addressing climate change, but could be a significant driver in mobilising the people the resources and importantly the
positive change to not only participate, but to help lead this compelling agenda.
As Constructors we see this as an opportunity, driving positive change is in our blood, it’s why many of us got into
construction and its related professions in the first place! It is certainly one of the reasons we joined, not only the
industry, but also The Worshipful Company of Constructors. That’s why in 2021 we formed a Climate Action Committee
(CAC) and in 2022 we saw the group expand and grow in numbers, placing Constructors in a number of significant Livery
and industry leading initiatives and Task groups. In 2022 we:
• Launched our Constructors Climate Action Webpages and published our agreed Aims and Objectives. We
leveraged social media to communicate our plans and generally raise awareness of our CAC. We presented
our experiences to encourage other Livery Companies, and as a result the Furniture Makers have now
established their own CAC and many others have now joined Livery Climate Action Group (LCAG).
• Sponsored, supported, and helped deliver the inaugural LCAG Conference. We partnered with Supply Chain
Sustainability School and our own Scholarships Committee to deliver Climate Action Scholarships. We
produced a number of guides for publication on the LCAG and Constructors websites. We produced the first
Livery Net Zero Action Plan and researched various carbon offset options and strategies.
• Introduced 12 new members to the Company who joined us after seeing the way we have taken Climate
Action. Many of these new members have become active members of our Climate Action Committee.
Studies have indicated that young people want to be involved with companies and sectors that are helping
to solve the global challenges: Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, Social Equity. Perhaps there is a huge
opportunity here to use our commitment to drive positive change in our sector and our Company, which
could be leveraged to help address the skills shortage we face within our industry? We are currently
exploring initiatives in this area and will present our proposals to Court in due course.

Page 14 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | Autumn 2022