The Worshipful Company of World Traders is one of the 110 Livery Companies of the

City of London The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London fr ...

. The Guild of World Traders was constructed in 1985 and it became a Company in 1993. Its petition for livery status was granted by the

Court of Aldermen The Court of Aldermen forms part of the senior governance of the City of London Corporation. It comprises twenty-five aldermen of the City of London, presided over by the Lord Mayor (becoming senior alderman during his year of office). The Cou ...

with effect from 2000. The Worshipful Company draws its membership from the

international trade International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories because there is a need or want of goods or services. (see: World economy) In most countries, such trade represents a significant ...

fraternity, with the aim of raising awareness and understanding of, and standards of practice in, world trade. The Company ranks 101st in the

order of precedence An order of precedence is a sequential hierarchy of nominal importance and can be applied to individuals, groups, or organizations. Most often it is used in the context of people by many organizations and governments, for very formal and state o ...

of the City Livery Companies. Its

motto A motto (derived from the Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of an individual, family, social group, or organisation. Mot ...

is ''Commerce and Honest Friendship with All'', taken from

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 18 ...

'
inaugural Presidential speech.

Introduction

The founding of the World Traders Association movement gave rise to the creation of trading complexes in over 160 cities throughout the world. London was the first in Europe, built in

St Katharine Docks St Katharine Docks is a former dock and now a mixed-used district in Central London, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and within the East End. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, immediately downstream of the Tower of London an ...

beside the

Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is separa ...

(though this World Trade Centre closed in 1994). Over 1,000 years earlier the same land was used by the

Knighten Guilde The ''Knighten Guilde'' or ''Cnichtengild'', which loosely translates into modern English as the Knight's Guild, was an obscure Medieval guild of the City of London, according to ''A Survey of London'' by John Stow (1603) in origin an order of chiv ...

to trade in foreign goods, and in 1979 the then Lord Mayor, Sir

Peter Gadsden Sir Peter Drury Haggerston Gadsden FREng (28 June 1929 – 4 December 2006) was a Canadian born British chartered engineer and globe-trotting trader. He was the 652nd Lord Mayor of London in 1979 and 1980. Background Gadsden was born in Mannv ...

, suggested that this tradition be revived by the creation of the Guild of World Traders to represent members of the international trading community in the City of London. The Company's founding Master was Mr Peter Drew OBE. From the outset the World Traders were determined to be a working Guild, only accepting members from the international trade fraternity, with the aim of raising awareness and understanding of, and standards of practice in, world trade. The Company is a member of the Financial Services Group of Livery Companies, the other 11 members of which are the Worshipful Companies of Chartered Accountants,

Actuaries An actuary is a business professional who deals with the measurement and management of risk and uncertainty. The name of the corresponding field is actuarial science. These risks can affect both sides of the balance sheet and require asset man ...

Arbitrators An arbitral tribunal or arbitration tribunal, also arbitration commission, arbitration committee or arbitration council is a panel of unbiased adjudicators which is convened and sits to resolve a dispute by way of arbitration. The tribunal may con ...

International Bankers The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is an international financial institution owned by central banks that "fosters international monetary and financial cooperation and serves as a bank for central banks". The BIS carries out its work thr ...

, Chartered Secretaries and Administrators,

Insurers Insurance is a means of protection from financial loss in which, in exchange for a fee, a party agrees to compensate another party in the event of a certain loss, damage, or injury. It is a form of risk management, primarily used to hedge ...

, Information Technologists, City of London Solicitors,

Management Consultants Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business. Management includes the activities o ...

, Marketors, and Tax Advisers.

Activities

The UK, principally through London, has a £40bn trade surplus in financial and professional services representing 3% of UK GDP. World Traders represent virtually every form of financial service and are committed to retaining and growing London’s services. World traders consist largely of three groups. ;Brokers :People who trade services. A great number of members work within the financial services sector of the City of London, for example, ship brokers, insurance brokers, commodity brokers, stockbrokers and currency dealers. ;Traders :People who trade tangible goods and products. These members are often importers and exporters, for example, of foodstuffs, pharmaceutical products, metals and various industrial products from doors to bridge builders. ;Financial services :Professionals who have a specialty in supporting international business. These members include lawyers, bankers, accountants, patent attorneys, academics and consultants. World Traders are at the forefront of debates shaping the future, for example the structure of the

Eurozone The euro area, commonly called eurozone (EZ), is a currency union of 19 member states of the European Union (EU) that have adopted the euro (€) as their primary currency and sole legal tender, and have thus fully implemented EMU policies ...

, banking & insurance regulation, reducing trade barriers, growing the fledgling carbon markets, and long-term sustainability of the environment and finance. The 250 World Traders are international. As well as UK-based British nationals, a significant number of the Livery are overseas nationals based in the UK, dual nationals, British nationals who live overseas and overseas nationals who live in their home country. World Traders host a large number of foreign visitors looking to relocate or establish trading connections with the UK not just from primary trading partners in the EU, China, Brazil, Russia, India or

Arab states of the Persian Gulf The Arab states of the Persian Gulf refers to a group of Arab states which border the Persian Gulf. There are seven member states of the Arab League in the region: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. ...

, but also from smaller countries which may benefit from personal support and contacts. The Company’s hallmark annual event is the ''

Tacitus Publius Cornelius Tacitus, known simply as Tacitus ( , ; – ), was a Roman historian and politician. Tacitus is widely regarded as one of the greatest Roman historiography, Roman historians by modern scholars. The surviving portions of his t ...

Lecture'', begun in 1988, now one of the largest intellectual events in the City of London’s calendar. The event gives a senior individual an opportunity to initiate a discussion of serious concerns about world trade in a global forum.

Key dates

23 November 1974 General Assembly of the World Trade Centers Association held at London Guildhall. Alderman Richard Charvet suggested the creation of the Guild of World Traders in London. 26 November 1979 Lord Mayor Alderman Sir Peter Gadsden laid foundation stone of International House (part of the then London World Trade Centre complex) and reiterates the suggestion of the creation of the Guild of World Traders. 24 October 1985 First meeting of the Guild of World Traders in London. 15 June 1993 Grant by the

to become The Company of World Traders. 9 November 1999 Petition to become The Worshipful Company of World Traders agreed by the Court of Aldermen, with effect from 1 January 2000. 25 January 2000 Company received its

letters patent Letters patent ( la, litterae patentes) ( always in the plural) are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, president or other head of state, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, titl ...

in a ceremony at Mansion House, from the Lord Mayor, Alderman Clive Martin. 10 July 2013

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...

granted a

Royal Charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, bu ...

to the Company.

Arms, Crest and Motto

The

Arms Arms or ARMS may refer to: *Arm or arms, the upper limbs of the body Arm, Arms, or ARMS may also refer to: People * Ida A. T. Arms (1856–1931), American missionary-educator, temperance leader Coat of arms or weapons *Armaments or weapons **Fi ...

of the Company were designed by Sir Colin Cole,

Garter Principal King of Arms The Garter Principal King of Arms (also Garter King of Arms or simply Garter) is the senior King of Arms, and the senior Officer of Arms of the College of Arms, the heraldic authority with jurisdiction over England, Wales and Northern Ireland. ...

, and presented by him at the Installation ceremony of Alderman Sir Peter Gadsden, the Guild's new Master, in 1987. These Arms depict five purses symbolising trade between the five continents, with the sword and wheel of St Catherine together with the water and quayside of the dock, as a reminder of the company's foundation. The Arms are surmounted by an

escarbuncle A carbuncle or escarbuncle is a heraldic charge consisting of eight radiating rods or spokes, four of which make a common cross and the other four a saltire. The ends typically terminate in a fleur-de-lis or some other decorative form. Frequently t ...

containing a medieval merchant's cap and the

supporters In heraldry, supporters, sometimes referred to as ''attendants'', are figures or objects usually placed on either side of the Escutcheon (heraldry), shield and depicted holding it up. Early forms of supporters are found in medieval seals. H ...

are a dolphin borrowed from the

Company of Watermen and Lightermen The Company of Watermen and Lightermen (CWL) is a historic City guild in the City of London. However, unlike the city's other 109 livery companies, CWL does not have a grant of livery. Its meeting rooms are at Waterman's Hall on St Mary at Hil ...

, who originally gave the company sanctuary in the City of London, and the sea dragon of the City as a mark of respect for its commands. The Master's

Badge A badge is a device or accessory, often containing the insignia of an organization, which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath (e.g., police and fi ...

of office displays the Company's

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central ele ...

mounted on a piece of rock crystal, donated by the World Trade Centre of Rio de Janeiro, carved with an outline of five continents. The motif on the Company tie derives from the Company's

crest Crest or CREST may refer to: Buildings *The Crest (Huntington, New York), a historic house in Suffolk County, New York *"The Crest", an alternate name for 63 Wall Street, in Manhattan, New York *Crest Castle (Château Du Crest), Jussy, Switzerla ...

: it comprises the helm, torse and mantling surmounted by the wheel of St. Catherine upon which is a medieval merchant's cap. The Company's

is "Commerce and honest friendship with all", a quote from Thomas Jefferson's inaugural Presidential speech.

Company Officers

Master: Mrs Mary Hardy Senior Warden: Mr Michael Shapiro Junior Warden: Mr Michael Larsen Clerk: Mrs Gaye Duffy The Worshipful Company of World Traders is governed by its Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, and a Court of Assistants which elects the forthcoming Master and Wardens. The chief executive officer of the Company is known as the Clerk. The Master and Wardens serve the Company in their respective roles for a period of one year, after which time the Master becomes 'Immediate Past Master', the Senior Warden becomes the Master of the Company and the Junior Warden is promoted to the role of Senior Warden. A new Junior Warden is then elected by the Court of Assistants. Past Masters advise the incumbent Master and can resume as Master should the need arise. The appointment to the office of Clerk is not subject to annual election.

Past Masters

2021-22: Mrs Mary Hardy 2020-21: Ms Sue Algeo 2019-20: Mr Peter Alvey 2018–19: Dr Edwina Moreton 2017–18: Alderman Professor

Michael Mainelli Michael Raymond Mainelli MStJ (born 1958), Chairman of Z/Yen, served as a Sheriff of the City of London for 2019–2021. Emeritus Gresham Professor of Commerce at Gresham College, he is founder of the Long Finance initiative. Alderman for ...

2016–17: Mr Robert Woodthorpe Browne 2015–16: Miss Wendy Hyde 2014–15: Mr Mark Hardy 2013–14: Dr Heather McLaughlin 2012–13: Mr John Burbidge-King 2011–12: Miss Mei Sim Lai 2010–11: Mr Graham Bishop 2009–10: Mr Michael Wren 2008–09: The Baroness Garden of Frognal 2007–08: Mr

Robert Alston Robert John Alston, (born 10 February 1938) is a retired British diplomat. Alston was educated at Ardingly College and New College, Oxford. He is Chairman of Governors at Ardingly College. He served as British Ambassador to Oman between (198 ...

2006–07: Mr Jack Wigglesworth 2005–06: Mr William King 2004–05: Mr Eric Stobart 2003–04: Mr Eric Tracey 2002–03: Mr John Stace 2001–02: Mr Bryan Whalley 2000–01: Miss Susan Hughes 1999–2000: Sir

Roger Cork Sir Roger William Cork (31 March 1947 – 21 October 2002) was a British accountant and insolvency expert, and the 669th Lord Mayor of London (from 1996 to 1997). Roger Cork was born on 31 March 1947 in Hatch End, Middlesex, the son of Sir Kenne ...

1998–99: Mr Peter Wildblood 1997–98: Porfessor David Watt 1996–97: Mr Jim Davis 1995–96: Mr Bryan Montgomery 1994–95: The

Venerable The Venerable (''venerabilis'' in Latin) is a style, a title, or an epithet which is used in some Western Christian churches, or it is a translation of similar terms for clerics in Eastern Orthodoxy and monastics in Buddhism. Christianity Cathol ...

Peter Delaney 1993–94: Mr George Capon 1992–93: Mr Peter Drew 1991–92:

Patrick Pery, 6th Earl of Limerick Patrick Edmund Pery, 6th Earl of Limerick KBE, AM, DL (12 April 1930 – 8 January 2003), was an Irish peer, banker and public servant. Life Patrick Edmund Pery was the son of Edmund Pery, 5th Earl of Limerick, and Angela, Countess of Limer ...

1990–91: Mr Richard Charvet 1989–90: Mr Peter Bowring 1988–89: The Lord Bellwin of Leeds 1987–88: Sir

FREng Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) is an award and Scholarship, fellowship for engineers who are recognised by the Royal Academy of Engineering as being the best and brightest engineers, inventors and technologists in the UK a ...

1985–87: Mr Peter Drew

Company Chaplains and Church

* The Reverend Katherine Hedderley *

All Hallows by the Tower All Hallows-by-the-Tower, at one time dedicated jointly to All Hallows (All Saints) and the Virgin Mary and sometimes known as All Hallows Barking, is an ancient Anglican church on Byward Street in the City of London, overlooking the Tower of ...

References

{{authority control World Traders 1993 establishments in England 1993 in London