The AGM and Kirking Service in November 2021 seem just like yesterday but quite a lot of water has flowed under the bridge in the last 12 months. During that time there has been a huge amount of activity in the Company – including a number of challenges but also great progress to meeting them. There have also been many enjoyable occasions along the way, as the Company largely (but not fully) emerged from the COVID pandemic. In this Annual Report I have sought to cover the main highlights of the last year.
Strategic Plan
When I was elected Master, the strategic plan initiated by my predecessor, Old Master Peter Hillier, was newly up and running, and much of our recent activity has been to implement its key objectives. Huge progress has been made already and I want to thank and pay tribute to the many Court and Committee members who have worked so hard to bring the good intentions of the plan to reality.
Members may will recall that the plan has been arranged around three main strategic pillars: Membership; Company; and Charity
Membership
- Membership – Our membership stands at 455, which unfortunately is continuing to follow the pattern of slow decline which has been evident for some years. The Membership committee has worked hard to attract suitably qualified candidates from the business community and is making considerable progress, despite having to cancel various recruitment initiatives due to the COVID pandemic and the passing of HM The Queen.
- Associate Programme – As part of our drive to make the Company more attractive and accessible to younger members of the business community, our new Associate programme is aimed at people who are less than 35 years of age and is intended to provide an opportunity for people to ‘dip their toe in the waters’ of the Merchant Company without having to make a commitment for full membership. When Associates reach the age of 35, or indeed at any time, they can apply to become Members. A very successful launch event was held in May, and led to an initial cohort of 30 gaining Court approval to join us as Associates. I was delighted to welcome the first 22 Associates to our October Stated Meeting when they signed our new Associates Roll Book. The others will sign the Roll as soon as they can attend one of our stated meetings.
- Onboarding Programme – An induction programme for the first year of as an ASsociate or a Membership has been prepared and is now up and running. The intention is to provide a framework for the first year which will ensure that new Members or Associates can hit the ground running and feel part of the Company from the outset. An important part of this initiative is for existing Members to act as Guides and this is something which I want to encourage.
- Social events – One of the consistent themes of feedback we received in the strategic review discussions was that, while members want the Company to continue with its formal events, they would like more in the way of informal social events. That feedback was put to the test with our first informal Summer Supper, which took place on Friday 24th June and it was a great success – a full Hall of members and guests were entertained with beautiful music from three ESMS pupils and also by our guest speaker, Prof Heather McGregor of Heriot-Watt University, who delivered a most amusing but also thought-provoking speech. Look out for other new events, including the Merchant Company Spring Ball at The Prestonfield House Hotel on 21st April next year (tickets now on sale on our website).
Company
- Company administration – At the Hall there has been a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes. Susan Groat has settled into her role as Secretary & Chamberlain quickly and very well, and has been busy modernising the workings of the office, particularly the accounting and finance functions. In addition, a number of new Health & Safety policies and other compliance measures have been introduced, including fire safety briefings which are now provided at the beginning of all events.
- Finance – Unfortunately the Company has not been immune to the financial stresses brought about by the COVID pandemic, weak business conditions and inflationary pressures. Our investment to modernise the office systems, plus some extra-ordinary costs arising from historic issues, has placed additional short term pressure on finances for both this year and last. I have formed specialist Finance and Investment groups to consider how to ensure the ongoing financial sustainability of the Company in the medium to long term and they will report shortly with options.
- Committee Vacancies – Opportunities to serve on committees are now being advertised to all company members when they arise, and this has resulted in a considerable number of new faces and previously hidden skill sets and talents coming forward. I am pleased to say that most committees are now at full strength but there are a few vacancies – please look out for the next invitation to apply, which will be coming out soon.
- Communications – We have been modernising the way the Company communicates, both internally and externally. There is still much to be done on social media and the use of more efficient communications tools, but a good start has been made. One visible improvement is the new design for The Merchant publication which came out earlier this year. We are also using the Mailchimp system for our main mailshots and that is working well, not only because it is more efficient and better designed, but also because it is more cost effective.
Charity
- Reorganisation of our charities – It has been recognised for some years that the way that our various charitable trusts are structured constrains their ability to maximise their contribution to good causes across the city. Work has been ongoing to merge our seven small Sundry Trusts into one larger trust and that is nearly complete. In addition, earlier this year, the Endowments Trust applied to the charity regulator, OSCR, to widen the criteria for beneficiaries, which would enable it to do more with the resources which are available. Key among the changes being sought are the removal of the ‘over 55 years of age’ requirement for beneficiaries, and we are also seeking the ability to give charitable assistance to other charities and organisations as well as to individuals.
- New charitable initiatives – We are working on some tremendously exciting plans which we will announce and implement once we receive the necessary approvals from OSCR. These new initiatives would significantly broaden and increase the charitable contribution which we make in the community, as well as considerably raising the profile of the company.
- Jubilee Coffee Morning – One highlight of our recent charity work was the coffee morning which we held for our pensioners in early June, as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of our late Patron, HM The Queen. It was a tremendous event which was enjoyed by everyone who attended. Entertainment was provided by the MGA Academy for the Performing Arts, and we also enjoyed beautiful singing from one of our pensioners, who had most of the audience singing along to some classic numbers. It demonstrated to me how the help we give extends much further than financial assistance alone. Surplus cakes and sandwiches were delivered to, and gratefully received by, a childrens’ group in Pilton that we have been helping.
- Our Schools – both of our schools have faced multiple challenges this year, ranging from the effects of COVID, to pressures on staff salaries and huge uplifts in energy costs – all at a time when we know that our parent communities are facing financial headwinds themselves. The governors and staff have tackled these difficulties with great energy and commitment, and I am delighted to report that the schools remain in good shape. I would like to thank the Principals, their teaching and support staff, and all the governors for the huge contribution that they make.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
In common with everyone in the Merchant Company, I was greatly saddened by the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. Her late Majesty’s association with the Company goes back more than 70 years, beginning shortly after her marriage. On 3 March 1949, Princess Elizabeth, along with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, joined the Merchant Company as honorary members. She went on to be our Patron in 1952. The Company was deeply honoured to be granted our Royal title in December 2017 by Her Majesty – an honour that is unique in livery circles.
We were honoured to receive invitations to a number of events to mark the passing of Her Majesty and to celebrate her life and work. I had the privilege of representing the Company at the service of thanksgiving at St Giles’ Cathedral, at the State Funeral in Westminster Abbey, and at the proclamation ceremony for King Charles III at the Mercat Cross here in Edinburgh. The Secretary & Chamberlain represented the Company at the Motion of Condolence in the Scottish Parliament.
Perks of the Job
I have taken advantage of as many of the invitations that come the Master’s way as possible. I have had the pleasure of attending a number of dinners in London, courtesy of the Lord Mayor, and also the Clothworkers, Drapers, Ironmongers, Haberdashers and Shipwrights Companies. I have also represented the Company at dinners held by the Merchant Taylors in York, the Master Cutlers in Sheffield and the Merchant Venturers in Bristol. Closer to home, I represented the Company at dinners held by The Incorporated Trades of both Edinburgh and Glasgow. Earlier in the year I was also pleased support the Lord Provost’s One City Trust by taking a table at their Burns Supper. During the Royal Week in June I had the privilege of representing the Company at Her Majesty’s Garden Party at The Palace of Holyroodhouse and at the Thanksgiving Service for the Order of the Thistle at St Giles’ Cathedral.
More recently, I had the privilege of hosting a highly successful Court Dinner in the Hall. It was an excellent opportunity for us to reciprocate the hospitality which we receive from other livery companies, and also to strengthen connections and to say thank you to representatives of the many other organisations with whom we have strong working relationships.
Our Team
This has been a year of much change and development in our team based in the Hall.
Not least among the changes was Kathleen Callachan’s retiral on 19th August, exactly 48 years after starting work at the Merchant Company as a school leaver. While her official job title was Personal Assistant to the Secretary & Chamberlain, Kathleen’s role was, for many years, much more than that – she dealt with a wide range of membership, events, communications and Company matters, as well as being the main administrative resource in the office. In carrying out her work she became well known and a friend to generations of members, and a valuable source of information and advice to many Masters, not least of all myself.
I was delighted that so many members contributed to her retiral gift and attended a special reception earlier in October when she was made an Honorary Member of the Association of Assistants. I think we gave her a worthy send off, which I know she very much enjoyed and appreciated.
One of the first tasks in my term of office was to chair the selection panel for the appointment of a new Secretary & Chamberlain to succeed Gregor Murray, who retired in autumn last year. At the risk of sounding immodest, I believe that we have made an excellent choice in Susan Groat who, since joining us in February, has worked tirelessly to modernise the various working practices and systems in the office. I want to record my thanks and congratulations to Susan for her exceptionally hard work and the tremendous commitment which she has shown in her new role.
I also want to recognise the excellent work of our Senior Company Officer, Graham McDonald, and to thank him for being a rock of stability during a period of significant change. Graham, along with our Almoner, Ann Murdoch, are important and integral members of the new team which the Secretary is building, and I was pleased to welcome earlier this month our new Membership, Events & Communications Manager, Gill Daniell. Gill was thrown in at the deep end as she joined us in the run up to the Court Dinner, which is a particularly intensive period of activity in the Hall. I am delighted to say that she coped very well indeed and I am very optimistic that we now have a very strong team to take us forward. I would also like to record my special thanks to two of our members, Fiona MacFarlane and Joanne Frette, who stepped in to superbly organise a number of events prior to Gill’s arrival.
Looking Ahead
In the next year, the strategic development for the future of the Company will remain a key priority for the Court: How to secure the Company’s financial stability; enhance and grow our charitable work; and ensure that the Company remains relevant and attractive to members and potential members in the 21st Century. There are a number of excellent initiatives underway and in the pipeline to achieve these aims and I look forward to sharing them with you over the coming months.
Thank You
Finally, I wish to thank the Old Masters for their support and guidance, and my Treasurer Alistair Smith, for his wise counsel and overall contribution to the Company. My grateful thanks also go to all the Assistants on the Court, to the Chairs of our Committees, and to all the Company members who have helped on these committees. My thanks also to all those who have in other ways supported the Company by organising and coming to Company meetings, business and social events, and taking part in charitable activities – after all, that is what the Merchant Company is really about.