The role of the livery companies has evolved over the centuries, as they aim to remain relevant to the world in which they operate. All would include philanthropy and education amongst their purposes today (as has always been the case), along with support for the armed services.
But below are listed brief descriptions of what each company also does relating to their historic purpose. The number before each company is their precedence number. That in parenthesis after the role (in bold) is the approximate number of liverymen in each, at early 2020.
The website URL of each livery company is also shown, where more details may be found about their work, role and history.
91 Actuaries' Company Actuaries (260) https://www.actuariescompany.co.uk
81 Air Pilots' Company Aviation (550) https://www.airpilots.org
58 Apothecaries' Society Medicine (1200) https://www.apothecaries.org
93 Arbitrators' Company Arbitration (145) https://www.arbitratorscompany.org
22 Armourers and Brasiers' Company Material Sciences (130) https://www.armourershall.co.uk
110 Arts Scholars' Company Arts academics, markets & collectors (150) https://artsscholars.org/
19 Bakers' Company Baking (235) https://www.bakers.co.uk
17 Barbers' Company Medicine (250) https://barberscompany.org
52 Basketmakers' Company Basketry (200) https://www.basketmakersco.org
40 Blacksmiths' Company Blacksmiths (260) https://blacksmithscompany.co.uk
38 Bowyers' Company Bowmaking (100) http://www.bowyers.com
14 Brewers' Company Brewing (200) https://www.brewershall.co.uk
48 Broderers' Company Embroidery (120) http://www.broderers.co.uk
88 Builders Merchants' Company Builders Merchants (210) http://www.wcobm.co.uk
24 Butchers' Company Meat (650) https://www.butchershall.com
77 Carmen Company Transport & Logistics (500) http://www.thecarmen.co.uk
26 Carpenters’ Company Construction & all timber crafts (150) http://www.carpentersco.com
86 Chartered Accountants' Company Accountantcy (290) https://accountantslivery.org
98 Chartered Architects' Company Architecture (160) http://architectscompany.org
87 Chartered Secretaries’ Company Company Secretaries & Governance professionals (210) https://wccsa.org.uk
85 Chartered Surveyors' Company Built Environment (330) https://www.surveyorslivery.org.uk
61 Clockmakers' Company Horology (285) http://www.clockmakers.org
12 Clothworkers' Company Textiles; Trusteeship; Support for Services Affiliates’ (210) https://www.clothworkers.co.uk
72 Coachmakers' Company Automotive, Aerospace, Coachmaking & Coach Harness Making (430) http://coachmakers.co.uk
99 Constructors' Company Construction industry (135) http://www.constructorscompany.co.uk
35 Cooks' Company Cookery (70) https://www.cooks.org.uk
36 Coopers' Company Casks (250) https://www.coopers-hall.co.uk
27 Cordwainers' Company Shoes (190) http://cordwainers.org
29 Curriers' Company Leather (110) https://www.curriers.co.uk
18 Cutlers' Company Steel (90) https://www.cutlerslondon.co.uk
69 Distillers' Company Spirits (320) https://www.distillers.org.uk
3 Drapers' Company Philanthropy in education, social welfare & textiles (290) https://www.thedrapers.co.uk
13 Dyers' Company Dyes & Colourings (140) http://www.dyerscompany.co.uk
109 Educators' Company Education (200) https://educatorscompany.org
94 Engineers' Company Engineering (all disciplines) (310) http://engineerscompany.org.uk
97 Environmental Cleaners' Company Cleaning & Maintaining the built Environment (160) http://wc-ec.com
76 Fan Makers' Company Turbines & Aircon (190) https://fanmakers.com
80 Farmers' Company Farming & Agriculture (355) http://www.farmerslivery.org.uk
55 Farriers' Company Equine (330) https://www.wcf.org.uk
63 Feltmakers' Company Hats & Millinery (200) https://www.feltmakers.co.uk
103 Firefighters' Company Fire prevention (140) http://www.wcoff.org
4 Fishmongers' Company Fishing industry (330) https://fishmongers.org.uk
39 Fletchers' Company Archery (150) http://www.fletchers.org.uk
33 Founders' Company Foundry (165) https://www.foundersco.org.uk
64 Framework Knitters' Company Textiles (185) https://www.frameworkknitters.co.uk
45 Fruiterers' Company Fruit (260) https://www.fruiterers.org.uk
95 Fuellers' Company Energy industry (160) https://www.fuellers.co.uk
83 Furniture Makers’ Company Furniture Manufacture (220) http://www.furnituremakers.org.uk
66 Gardeners' Company Horticulture (295) https://www.gardenerscompany.org.uk
23 Girdlers' Company Leather (80) https://girdlers.co.uk
71 Glass Sellers' Company Glass, Glass Fibre, Fibre Optics (132) https://www.glass-sellers.co.uk
53 Glaziers' Company Stained & painted glass (180) http://glazierscompany.org.uk
62 Glovers' Company Gloves (250) https://www.thegloverscompany.org
74 Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers' Company Jewellers, embroiderers & microchips (280) https://www.gswd.org.uk
5 Goldsmiths' Company Gold & Silversmiths; Assay office (280) https://www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk
2 Grocers' Company Education (360) https://grocershall.co.uk
73 Gunmakers' Company Proofing of firearms & gunmaking (360) https://www.gunmakers.org.uk
8 Haberdashers' Company Education (325) https://www.haberdashers.co.uk
104 Hackney Carriage Drivers' Company Black Cab Drivers (105) http://www.hackneycarriagedriverscompany.com
54 Horners' Company Polymers & Plastics (200) http://www.horners.org.uk
100 Information Technologists' Company Information Technology (380) https://www.wcit.org.uk
32 Innholders' Company Hospitality (100) https://www.innholders.org.uk
92 Insurers' Company Insurance (365) https://www.wci.org.uk
106 International Bankers' Company Financial Services (190) https://internationalbankers.org.uk
10 Ironmongers' Company Iron & Steel (115) https://www.ironmongers.org
41 Joiners' Company Joinery & Carving (130) http://www.joinersandceilers.co.uk
89 Launderers' Company Laundry (175) https://www.launderers.co.uk
15 Leathersellers' Company Leather & Tanning (150) https://leathersellers.co.uk
96 Lightmongers' Company Electricity (150) http://www.lightmongers.co.uk
57 Loriners' Company Equine (350) https://www.loriner.co.uk
75 Makers of Playing Cards' Company Games & Entertainment (150) https://makersofplayingcards.org
105 Management Consultants' Company Management Consultancy (130) https://wcomc.org
90 Marketors' Company Marketing (250) https://www.marketors.org
30 Masons' Company Stonemasonry (190) https://www.masonslivery.org
78 Master Mariners' Company Professional Sea Captains (-) http://hcmm.org.uk
1 Mercers' Company Philanthropy (250) https://www.mercers.co.uk
7 Merchant Taylors' Company Education, Housing (360) https://www.merchant-taylors.co.uk
50 Musicians' Company Music (440) https://www.wcom.org.uk
65 Needlemakers Company Users of Needles (195) https://www.needlemakers.org.uk
28 Painter-Stainers' Company Artists (270) https://painter-stainers.org
Parish Clerks' Company Members of PCC, Church Wardens & Organists (90) https://www.londonparishclerks.com
70 Pattenmakers' Company Footwear (210) https://www.pattenmakers.co.uk
56 Paviors' Company Paving & Construction (310) https://www.paviors.org.uk
16 Pewterers' Company Pewter (140) http://www.pewterers.org.uk
46 Plaisterers' Company Plaster (230) https://plaistererslivery.co.uk
31 Plumbers' Company Plumbing (340) http://www.plumberscompany.org.uk
34 Poulters' Company Poultry (220) https://poulters.org.uk
25 Saddlers' Company Saddlery & Equine (90) https://www.saddlersco.co.uk
9 Salters' Company Chemicals (180) https://www.salters.co.uk
84 Scientific Instrument Makers' Company Scientific Instruments and measures(180) https://www.wcsim.co.uk
44 Scriveners Company Notaries (200) https://www.scriveners.org.uk
108 Security Professionals' Company Security industry (180) https://www.wcosp.org
59 Shipwrights' Company Maritime (420) https://www.shipwrights.co.uk
6 Skinners' Company Philanthropy, school governance, support to the elderly (390) https://www.skinners.org.uk
79 Solicitors' Company Solicitors (410) https://www.citysolicitors.org
60 Spectacle Makers' Company Eye Health Professionals (380) https://www.spectaclemakers.com
47 Stationers' Company Printing, Publishing, Newspapers, Journalism, Digital Media and Office Products (530) https://www.stationers.org
21 Tallow Chandlers' Company Oils & Fats, energy sector, candles (180) http://www.tallowchandlers.org
107 Tax Advisers' Company Tax Advice (160) https://www.taxadvisers.org.uk
67 Tin Plate Workers' alias Wire Workers' Company Metal packaging, wire & non-precious metals (180) https://tinplateworkers.co.uk
82 Tobacco Pipe Makers’ Company Tobacco Pipe Making (135) http://www.tobaccolivery.org
51 Turners' Company Turning & Wood (190) https://turnersco.com
37 Tylers & Bricklayers Company Tiling, bricklaying & roofing (160) https://www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk
49 Upholders' Company Upholstery, Soft Furnishings & Funeral Directing (160) https://upholders.co.uk
11 Vintners' Company Wine (390) https://vintnershall.co.uk
102 Water Conservators' Company Water (175) http://www.waterconservators.org
Watermen's Company Navigational crew on Thames boats (380*) https://watermenscompany.com
20 Wax Chandlers' Company Wax & Bee-keeping (120) http://www.waxchandlers.org.uk
42 Weavers' Company Woven Textiles (130) http://www.weavers.org.uk
68 Wheelwrights' Company Wheelwrights (210) http://www.wheelwrights.org
43 Woolmen's Company Wool & Textiles (160) https://www.woolmen.com
101 World Traders' Company Global traders, brokers & advisers (220) https://www.world-traders.org
* Craft owning freemen, not liverymen.
A spreadsheet showing the above list may be downloaded here, for ease of sorting and searching the data.
Compiled by Nigel R Pullman
15th May 2020
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