Page 16 - A4 Journal 2022

The Company

As always, we are indebted to Lady Valerie Dixon for her ongoing support of the programme in memory of her late
husband. We would also like to extend our thanks for the continued support of Dr Renuka Thakore of the University of
Estates Management who will be delivering a number of learning tutorials to extend the research skills of the scholars.

5 Membership Committee
Honorary Court Assistant John Rowsell, the current Chair of the Membership Committee was appointed during the year
and writes:
Over the year Diversion and Inclusion, previously a sub-committee, has been raised to full committee status under the
leadership of Freeman Diana Chrouch OBE.
Over the year we have worked tirelessly to achieve our membership targets and will continue to do this next year. To
achieve this we must focus on developing the benefits of direct membership-applications secured through our
increasing social media profile, as well as the traditional ‘’proposer’’ route, which has served us since our foundation.
Additionally, we have introduced measures to improve the engagement of new members, to both reduce potential
departures and encourage more young applicants. These are (1) the introduction of mentoring at the interview stage and
(2) the establishment of a NewGen Group, which is an initiative to provide opportunities for newly joined members to
connect with other new Constructors and experienced members in an informal setting. NewGen will run a calendar of
events throughout the year approximately once per quarter. Establishing relationships with veteran Constructors at
these events will help new members settle in and familiarise themselves with the Company and its processes as well as
understand the commitment required if members aspire to progress through Court. The NewGen events combined with
the mentoring programme will provide a springboard for new members to become active in Company life.
Carlo Maddedu has now taken over as Chair of the Young Members Group and, in conjunction with the Merchandise and
Events Committee, will draft a schedule of events to attract our younger members.

6 IT and Media Committee
Renter Warden Tim Fitch, the Chair of the IT and Media Committee writes:
“In the past year the committee has continued to implement the marketing strategy devised during lockdown in 2020.
The look and feel of the website has been refreshed and in particular includes a new structure to bring the work of the
Climate Action Group to the fore. The charitable work of the Company and the Charitable Trust has also been
accentuated. The yearbook is now also available online within the members area.
The team has also implemented a low cost CRM system which will make tracking members contact details and
communication (especially via email) much more effective and will reduce cost and administration.
The social media activity of the Company has continued to develop satisfactorily and our LinkedIn posts are increasingly
popular. The team encourages the sharing of photos and videos of Livery/Freeman activities via the WhatsApp group.
This will help Honorary Freeman Ashlynn Harvey create more social media content. This is really important as the
committee, along with membership and events team, has a joint initiative to help increase applications for membership
to the Company. This Membership Boost Group has devised a method of reaching out to appropriate people who have
followed the Company’s LinkedIn page. The trial has proven very successful with applications up at least 100% over the
last few months. We will build on this now proven process and hope to greatly increase membership applications further
this year.
A final part of the strategy review was the development of a partner outreach programme. The idea was to link up with
other like minded organisations connected to the construction industry. We have made very good progress with The
Federation for the Built Environment, who hosted the Master at their annual luncheon, and we are progressing our
discussions with them about how we could collaborate together as we go forward. We have also collaborated with
Women in Property and National Association of Women in Construction to raise awareness of the Company among
historically underrepresented groups. Finally I would like to acknowledge the help and support of my committee over the
past year, in particular Andy Hastie and Ashlynn Harvey who have been instrumental in delivering this activity.”

7 Fundraising Committee
Past Master Professor Mike Parrett, the Chair of the Fundraising Committee writes:
“Over the last year the Fundraising Committee has, as always, sought to raise considerable sums for charity, and in
particular, for our own charities and the Charitable Trust. Regrettably, however, the planned biennial Charity Gala Event
at the Reform Club had to be cancelled as it fell within the mourning period for HM Queen Elizabeth II. There will
however be a Fundraising Gala Dinner on Thursday 11 May 2023 aboard HMS Belfast, when we aim to raise £30,000. In
addition to this we hope to attract sponsors to support our Bursaries, Scholarships, Climate Action and our Charitable
Trust. We also hope that our varied events programme will attract corporate interest.
We are always looking for more fundraising ideas and areas that are currently needing attention include the development
of advertising space for the Journal, member benefits and building the Master and Wardens’ Fund.”

Page 16 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | Autumn 2022