Winter 2013 Issue 26 Looking to the Future Our 20/20 vision Our News Master’s Column The News In the four months since Oath Day when I had the privilege of Prize-winning New Footwear laced boot, 1890. being elected your Master, life has been far from dull. There (London College of has been a round of dinners and functions, all of them Student of the Year Fashion Collection) interesting and convivial, but what you, may ask, is their competition launched relevance? As a Company, we are focusing very much on the future, with the launch of the 2020 Vision that will guide our Students at the three main British universities offering development. Designers of the future progress for the next few years. How do the activities of the footwear degree courses will soon be able to compete to are being challenged and supported Master’s year fit with our vision? by the original home of the British be crowned Cordwainers’ Footwear Student of the Year. Well, I hope that as a representative of the Company I serve to The Master, Glenn Shaw footwear business – the Cordwainers’ Following agreement with the London College of Fashion (part raise the profile of the Cordwainers, both with our charitable company’. of the University of the Arts London), De Montfort University partners and in the wider world of the footwear trade. and the University of Northampton, each student entering the The competition marks a I have attended some wonderful events with the Fusiliers and competition will be invited to produce a design for a new shoe. breakthrough for the Cordwainers’ at the London College of Fashion, which really brought home This will include a design rationale together with mood boards, Company, as it is the first time we to me that money donated by this Company has a very tangible customer profile, and a materials board. have spearheaded a national award. effect on the lives and careers of young people, be they Fusilier John Miller, the Clerk explained, Each university will shortlist their five top entrants, who will then cadets or footwear students. As Master, it is a true privilege to ‘Our strategy is to increase our compete in a final to be judged by an independent panel of witness the good that we, as a Company, can do. profile generally, particularly in industry experts. the footwear industry, and this Sue Saunders As part of our 2020 Vision, we aim to double the amount that Commenting on the new competition, Kevin Guildford, Course competition will help us to achieve we donate to external charities and my charity for the year Leader in Footwear at De Montfort University, said ‘It will be a this. In addition, it will enable us to consolidate our position is Cordwainers 125, which provides financial assistance to great advert for what we do in the UK and also for the industry as the leading provider of bursaries and scholarships to footwear students at LCF. I hope all of you will support this to clearly see how the Cordwainers are positively supporting the footwear and accessories students in either financially, or – and here we embrace another aim of the future of the business’. the UK.’ 2020 Vision – get involved in the fundraising day at Blenheim Palace on 8 June 2014. Sue Saunders, Senior Lecturer in Footwear at the London The winners of the competition will be announced at College of Fashion added, ‘This is a really exciting the Ladies’ Dinner on 16th May 2014, when the top three I am very aware that I am serving as Master at a time of change. students will also receive their prizes. This year, for the first time in our 741-year history, we have two Proud Grandfather with baby Harry female wardens, Eleanor Stillwell and Sue Lindsay. In November, our Cordwainer Lord Mayor Roger Gifford was succeeded by Glenn Shaw was born in Surrey in 1953, Cordwainers drive ‘As Cordwainers, the first question Alderman Fiona Woolf, who will become only the second female the youngest son of Colonel Freddie Shaw, was how to be shod and the second, Lord Mayor in history and will be a guest of the Company at the and spent his early childhood in Iraq and sheep across was what does the well-dressed Past Wardens’ Dinner in March. Malaya. He was educated at Bedford School London Bridge shepherd wear? We erred on the side One further development is that we are able to contemplate a and the Royal Agricultural College at of practicality, attempting to avoid any new home for the company. This is a vision that, with hard work, Cirencester, before embarking on a career It is probably the most famous aspect hint of mutton being dressed as lamb, astute management and good luck, may become reality in a few in farm management. of being a freeman of the and stepped out wearing identical years time. Glenn joined the Territorial Army in the 1970s and City of London – freemen have a clothes for the first time since we were So I urge you all to embrace the 2020 Vision and look forward served for four years as a platoon commander and historic right to drive their sheep at school, way back in the last century. to welcoming as many of you as possible to the forthcoming ‘weekend warrior’ with the Royal Anglian regiment. across London Bridge without events of the year. While the Company’s financial resources are In 2005, he returned to college and completed a degree having to pay a toll, a privilege that Participants were given a time slot undoubtedly strong, our most important asset is our members, in environmental planning at Anglia Ruskin University. was highly valued 500 years ago, and groups of ten freemen drove without whom none of our charitable work would be possible. He now has a successful career in mineral and waste and is rather less useful today. The sheep for about 100 metres across planning at Essex County Council. Worshipful Company of Woolmen the bridge, at which point, another resurrect this ancient privilege every group took over. We walked across Father of James and Matthew, Glenn plays tennis few years with a sheep drive in aid London bridge behind our sheep on “ As Master, it is a true regularly, is a keen long-distance cyclist, Scottish dancer, and historical re-enactor. He is also looking of charity and on 21 September, a glorious Sunday afternoon and only forward to reviving his babysitting skills, as he has Junior Warden Eleanor Stillwell and had to explain a couple of times to privilege to witness the good recently become a proud grandfather to Harry, the son her sister Liveryman Judith Millidge those around us that Cordwainers that we, as a Company, of his elder son James. joined 600 other freemen to exert had nothing to do with cord and Sheep drive on London Bridge their ancient rights. Judith reports: everything to do with leather’. can do.” 2 The Cordwainer The Cordwainer 3 Taking the Long View Our 20/20 vision Our 2020 Vision and how we shall make it happen ‘ It is a wonderful reflection of the careful The Company has undoubtedly enjoyed a wonderful year and inspired by thought and desire of the Company to engage those events, the Court has taken a long view of the Cordwainers’ future. It the Cordwainer family in a common strategy. has agreed a new vision and strategy for the Company: the Cordwainers’ 2020 ‘I feel it is important to have Vision. This sets out how the Company should look within seven years, and Four simple aims will take us and our our own home that will give the what it will focus on, so that it is well positioned for its 750th Anniversary in associated charities to a better place, and makes 2022, and can move on strongly beyond that. Cordwainers’ Company a greater our Company stronger.’ identity for the future.’ Our 2020 Vision encompasses four broad aims, which are explained in more Liveryman, Nick Ferrier. detail below. Liveryman, David Walker. PARTICIPATION PROFILE CHARITY GROWTH Aim 1: Increase further the participation and involvement of Aim 2: Increase the profile of the Company both internally Aim 3: Double the amount given by Cordwainers’ charities Aim 4: Progressively increase the financial strength of the all Liverymen and Freemen in the Company’s social, charitable amongst members, and externally in the footwear trade, in the to targeted external charity beneficiaries from 2012 levels. Company so that we are able to consider acquiring our own and governance activities. City, and amongst our charitable and business partners. This will be achieved in three ways: home (not hall). We will focus on increasing the numbers and participation Effective communication to our members is critical. The heritage • Increases in the amounts paid to its charity from the We shall continue to run all the businesses as efficiently as levels of active Liverymen by recruiting keen new members, and roots of the Company’s history is the basis of our moral Cordwainers’ Company possible. There appears to be growing support for the idea and actively encouraging the participation of existing compass, which will be directed towards ‘doing good and having of the Cordwainers acquiring its own home, preferably in • Organic growth resulting from expansion of individual Liverymen, with a significant focus on younger members. fun’. This will be achieved through the use of The Cordwainer Cordwainer Ward. A home may encompass offices, but will charities run by the Company, such as the Cordwainers magazine, the website, social media and specific events.