In good Company

When the Beer Orders came into force in 1989, it was a real shake-up for the Worshipful Company of Brewers one of Britain's oldest trade bodies. GRAHAM RIDOUT reveals how the admission of family brewers and corporate members has opened up the organisation

The Beer Orders of 1989 were not to everyone's taste, but they can at least be credited with providing a lifeline for the trade's most venerable of institutions the Worshipful Company of Brewers.

Until the Beer Orders came along, the livery company had been the domain of London brewers and been so since 1292 the date of the earliest record of an organised group of brewers in the City. Although the brewers eventually received a Royal Charter from Henry VI in 1437, enabling them to establish a Livery Company, membership was restricted to London-based brewers for the next five-and-a-half centuries.

The Beer Orders, which were put in place to dilute the power of the half-a-dozen large brewers that dominated both the beer market and the nation's pub estate, meant that one of the City of London's oldest Livery Companies had to broaden its membership or wilt.

Doors open to family brewers

The doors of Brewers' Hall were thrown open to the family brewers of Britain. Among those to take advantage was Leicester brewer Everards, which joined in 1994. Chairman Richard Everard, who stepped down as Master of the Company of Brewers in mid-July, recalls: 'Clearly, there were not many London brewers left, so the decision was taken to allow in family brewers in the hope of revitalising the Company.

The change of strategy has paid dividends with a large number of family brewers joining in the past 11 years. The roll call is not limited to England with Felinfoel Brewery in Llanelli and SA Brain in Cardiff flying the flag for Wales while Scotland is represented by the Caledonian Brewery.

Another lifeline came in 1999 when Lord Levene, then Lord Mayor of London, repealed the 'Alien Act that prevented overseas nationals from being enrolled in Livery Companies.

David Ross CBE, who is effectively the chief executive of the Brewers' Company despite retaining the historic title of Clerk, explains: 'Before, only a UK national could become a Liveryman. Ross says the change allowed a non-UK national to progress to liveryman status by first becoming a Freeman of a Company, then a Freeman of the City of London, before finally becoming a Liveryman.

The changing face of ownership

The change came in time to reflect the changing face of the ownership of Britain's brewing industry with the emergence of Coors, Interbrew, Carlsberg, and Anheuser-Busch as major players. All are now corporate members and have nominated executive directors to join the Brewers' Company.

A largely unsung part of the Company's business is administering 21 different charities, ranging from a scholarship that enables a young brewer to visit and study the techniques used in overseas breweries to acting as trustees for two schools.

This year alone, in excess of £800,000 was made available to various good causes, largely from endowments left by former brewers or their families. The largest revenue stream stems from six acres of land in Islington where the Company acts as trustee.

The land was bequeathed by Dame Alice Owen in 1609 to provide almshouses and a school in the London borough.

The almshouses have gone, but the Alice Owen School still exists although it moved to Potters Bar in the mid-1970s. The rent from the multi-use site is ploughed back into education, supporting both the school and educational projects within Islington. The Company provides trustees to oversee Dame Alice's endowment.

The other major foundation was set up in 1597 by Richard Platt, proprietor of the Old Swan Brewery in the Parish of Garlickhithe in the City of London, who was Master of the Company on two occasions.

Again, his endowment went towards almshouses and a school. And again, the almshouses have gone, but the school in Aldenham, Hertfordshire survives.

The Company's rich and varied history begs the question whether it is a remnant of the past that is out-of-kilter with today's business world. Everard scotches the idea: 'We are incredibly targeted at representing the brewing industry. A lot of the Livery Companies are envious of our membership because it consists of executive directors of brewing companies.

He adds with a smile: 'Yes, we do have fun. Yes, we do network in style. But we also do a huge amount in support of educational and charitable work.

How the company functions

Although officially titled as Clerk, David Ross is effectively the chief executive, reporting to a 'board of directors the Court. There is also an executive committee of which the Master and the Wardens are members. The Court decides the amount to be allocated to the various charities and foundations after receiving input from the committee members.

The route to being

a Master

Every would-be Master undertakes a three-year 'apprenticeship to understand the role and workings of the Company. At first, a candidate is elected to serve for one year as a 'Renter Warden. This is followed by two one-year terms as 'Middle Warden and then 'Upper Warden, before serving as Master for 12 months. Richard Everard reports: 'It is a tremendous commitment on time, especially when Master. On occasions, I have had to commit four days per week to the job, while on other occasions I might not be here for three weeks.

'Two areas take up most of the time. First, there is the Brewers' Company business and the other is entertainment with the other Livery Companies. We get invited to a lot of functions held by other Livery Companies. It's nice to go to them, if we can spare the time, but we will only go if the Clerk and the Master can both attend.